‘Critical to keep demonstrations disciplined & large as possible’: Crown Prince Pahlavi issues ‘call to action’ to Iranian protesters

Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a direct call in Farsi (Persian) on Tuesday, calling for protests against the Iranian regime to continue and urging protesters to make a united stand on Thursday and Friday. 

“My dear compatriots,” Pahlavi said in the video statement, “Over the last week, I have watched your demonstrations closely, particularly those that are taking place today in the bazaars of Tehran. Despite the regime’s ongoing crackdown, you are resisting, and it is inspiring.” 

Pahlavi stated that larger protests, with more people on the streets, have been responsible for regime forces abandoning certain locations, with some security officials even defecting “to the side of the people.” 

“Therefore, it is critical to keep these demonstrations disciplined, and as large as possible,” he stated. 

من اولین فراخوان خود را امروز با شما در میان می‌گذارم و از شما دعوت می‌کنم که این پنج‌شنبه و جمعه، ۱۸ و ۱۹ دیماه، هم‌زمان سر ساعت ۸ شب، همگی چه در خیابان‌ها یا حتی از منازل خودتان شروع به سردادن شعار کنید. درنتیجه بازخورد این حرکت‌، من فراخوان‌های بعدی را به شما اعلام خواهم کرد. pic.twitter.com/TEDgXoJEbn

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 6, 2026

Giving a “call to action,” Pahlavi asked the Iranian people to go out “this Thursday and Friday, 18th and 19th of Dey (corresponding to Jan. 8 and 9), starting precisely at 8 PM.” 

Pahlavi asked the Iranian people, “wherever you are” to begin chanting at that time, saying, “Based on your response, I will announce the next calls to action.” 

The exiled crown prince also told the media that thousands of regime and security force officials have joined since he established the National Cooperation Platform following the 12-day Israel-Iran war last June. The platform was created to allow those working within the government structure to securely express their intention to support the opposition.

Protests in Iran entered their 11th day on Wednesday, with human rights groups claiming that at least 36 people have been killed in the unrest and more than 2,000 detained by regime forces. Reports also said the regime publicly executed a man accused of collaborating with Israel.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been trying to make a distinction between those protesting and rioters, saying the government understood the actions of those demonstrating against the economic conditions, while the latter deserved to be repressed brutally. In a speech, Khamenei tried to position the shop owners and merchants, called bazaaris in Persian, as loyal to the regime, by noting their support for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in the 1979 revolution. 

🚨 Fire, Fury & Frustration: Iran’s Streets Boil Over in Bold Backlash

Iran Erupts in Protest 🇮🇷
Massive unrest spreads to 100+ cities as citizens demand change. Gunfire, arrests, and chants echo across Tehran.

Here’s what it means:

-The regime is losing control of the… pic.twitter.com/AQXABC5RzN

— 🔥 CEO Branding Expert (@Ceo_Branding) January 6, 2026

However, on Tuesday and Wednesday, many bazaaris across the country closed their shops in solidarity with the protesters. 

Protesters and government security forces clashed at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on Tuesday, with security forces firing tear gas at the protesters who refused to evacuate the compound. 

Video from today in Tehran. The fact that the crowds have only grown in size in the protests in #Iran after the regime offered Iranians $7 per month (which is insulting given how much Tehran gives #Hezbollah operatives per month) in a gimmick to placate them is very telling. pic.twitter.com/Tp1rx7RhdH

— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) January 6, 2026

Some protesters even covered up the name of a street in Tehran with stickers, renaming it “President Trump Street,” hoping to see the U.S. president honor his commitment to intervene if the regime began shooting at protesters. 

In the city of Abdanan, police officers, gathered on the roof of a police building, waved and shouted their support to the protesters. 

BREAKING:

The Islamic regime in Iran is starting to crack.

As practically the entire city of Abdanan took to the streets today to protests against the Islamic regime, the police forces waved to them and applauded them from the roof of the police station pic.twitter.com/uijnlItSDd

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 6, 2026

Abdanan is a predominantly Kurdish city, and Kurds in Iran have sometimes been singled out for repression by the regime. Following Pahlavi’s call to go out in protest, Kurdish groups in Iran pledged to join the demonstrations on Thursday, and called for residents of Kurdish-majority provinces, like Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan, to join the protest movement. 

Meanwhile, an Iranian police officer uploaded a message to social media, encouraging the protesters to remain in the streets. 

“As long as you are on the streets and don't leave, I give you my word of honor that you are the winners in this battlefield,” he said. “And we are winning, be assured. I and many of my colleagues at work stand by your side and support you.” 

Message from an Iranian police officer to the protesters:

"Do not leave the streets under any circumstances. Very soon, we will join you - the people - and we will cleanse the country of the dirty ayatollahs". pic.twitter.com/ykpRctCzOY

— נועה מגיד | Noa magid (@NoaMagid) January 6, 2026

Amid renewed regime fears of an American intervention, especially following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Iran’s military chief Gen. Amir Hatami told the Fars news agency on Wednesday that Iran views the increasing rhetoric aimed at it as a “threat.” 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation a threat and will not tolerate its continuation without responding,” Gen. Hatami said. 

At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Mehr News Agency that the regime is not ready for a resumption of negotiations with the United States due to “the current situation.” 

"The current situation is not conducive to negotiations with the United States due to its policies," Araghchi said. "We are always ready for negotiations based on respect and mutual interests, but the U.S. government does not have such an approach at the moment.” 

Aragchi is scheduled to depart for Lebanon on Wednesday, amid U.S. pressure there for the Lebanese Army to disarm Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah. 

Read more: IRAN PROTESTS | IRAN | REZA PAHLAVI