Widespread protests have significantly escalated across Iran, reportedly fueled by calls from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for Iranians to take to the streets against the clerical leadership. Pahlavi, son of the last Shah, urged for demonstrations on Thursday and Friday, January 8 and 9, 2026, which reportedly 'turned the tide of the protests' and led to intensified street gatherings. Chants such as 'Pahlavi will return' and 'Death to the dictator!' have been reported from various cities. In response to the escalating unrest, Iranian authorities implemented a nationwide internet blackout and cut international telephone lines, a tactic previously used to suppress dissent. Online watchdog NetBlocks confirmed the internet outage began around 8:30 local time on Thursday, significantly limiting communication and coverage of events. Further compounding the situation, Turkish Airlines canceled all five of its Istanbul-Tehran flights on Friday, January 9, amid the ongoing protests and heightened security concerns in the region. While previous flight cancellations by Turkish Airlines have been noted due to various reasons like adverse weather or regional conflicts, this specific cancellation is linked to the current unrest. The protests, initially sparked by deepening economic hardship and the collapse of the Iranian rial, have broadened into a direct challenge to the Islamic Republic's government. Iranian state media acknowledged 'casualties' without details, while human rights groups like the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported at least 42 deaths and over 2,270 detentions by January 9, 2026. The international community, including figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump, has reportedly shown support for the protesters. The current wave of protests is described as the biggest since the 2022-23 Mahsa Amini protests.