Iran is gripped by its most intense anti-government protests in years as security forces escalate a brutal crackdown marked by mass arrests, live fire, and a nationwide internet blackout. Demonstrators across Tehran and dozens of cities chant against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fueled by soaring inflation, economic collapse, and anger at decades of repression. As the Iranian army and IRGC warn protesters of severe punishment, the crisis deepens with mounting civilian deaths, international condemnation, and rising tensions with the United States, raising fears of a historic turning point for the Islamic Republic.