Iran erupts: Women burn Khamenei’s posters to light cigarettes as protests rock the regime

Videos of the protest, now widely circulating on social media, have drawn global attention as burning the Supreme Leader’s image is considered a serious crime in Iran, while women are also prohibited from publicly smoking under strict morality laws.

The act has been widely interpreted as a symbolic protest against state control over women’s lives and broader restrictions on personal freedoms.

The dramatic visuals have emerged amid mass anti-government protests that have intensified in Tehran and several other cities, marking one of the largest waves of dissent against Iran’s leadership in recent years.

The demonstrations have been fuelled by soaring inflation, a struggling economy, and repeated crackdowns by security forces, further eroding public trust in the government. Several videos show protesters chanting slogans against the regime and calling for political change.

Meanwhile, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported a nationwide internet blackout in Iran amid the unrest.

Al Jazeera journalist Tohid Asadi reported that thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tehran on Thursday, calling it one of the most intense days of demonstrations.

“What we saw was many more neighbourhoods in the Iranian capital coming to the streets. Several roads were blocked while I was driving from downtown,” Asadi said, adding that clashes broke out between protesters and police.

He noted that economic pressures have severely affected working-class and lower-middle-class families, pushing many to openly challenge the political establishment.

During the protests, demonstrators were also heard calling for the overthrow of Ayatollah Khamenei and demanding the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince and son of Iran’s last shah.

According to Deutsche Welle (DW), Pahlavi has been advocating free elections and democratic reforms, rather than a restoration of the monarchy.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that Thursday marked the 12th consecutive day of nationwide protests, with demonstrations recorded in at least 46 cities across 21 provinces.

HRANA also noted widespread strikes and market closures, particularly in Kurdish regions, including Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah and Ilam provinces.

On the twelfth day alone, at least 60 additional arrests were reported, bringing the total number of detainees over the past 12 days to more than 2,277, including 166 minors and 48 university students, the organisation said.