Millions of Iranians are flooding streets across all 31 provinces today, pushing the Islamic Republic toward what analysts increasingly describe as a tipping point. The protests, now in their thirteenth day, have forced regime security forces to retreat from several major cities, including Isfahan, Iran's second-largest metropolis. President Trump reported on Truth Social that more than a million demonstrators rallied there alone, overwhelming local authorities. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei broke his silence Friday, dismissing protesters as 'rioters' seeking to please Trump, while state media blamed 'U.S. and Israeli terrorist agents' for the violence. At least 42 people have been killed and more than 2,270 detained, according to activist groups.
The Revolutionary Guards are now expected to take over crowd dispersal operations, a senior government official reportedly confirmed—a significant escalation that typically signals regime desperation. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last shah, told The Wall Street Journal the Islamic Republic is 'collapsing from within' and unveiled a proposed 'Cyrus Accords' framework. The biblical resonance is unmistakable: Cyrus the Great, whom Isaiah called God's 'anointed one,' freed the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity. Iranian-American Christian Marziyeh Amirizadeh, who survived a death sentence in Iran's notorious Evin prison for converting to Christianity, told Israel365 News she sees Jeremiah's prophecy unfolding before her eyes. Trump, however, ruled out meeting Pahlavi on Thursday, suggesting Washington isn't ready to back any successor regime.
As Iran's digital blackout continues—monitors describe it as a major communications shutdown—Israeli officials have quietly explored whether Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service could restore internet access to protesters. Deputy Minister Almog Cohen contacted Israeli-American venture capitalist Dovi Frances this week to inquire about Starlink operations inside Iran. Frances confirmed he spoke with Musk, though details remain undisclosed.
The Israel Defense Forces launched fresh strikes Friday against both Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, responding to what the military described as 'continued violations of ceasefire understandings.' The Gaza operation, conducted in collaboration with Shin Bet, targeted Hamas terrorists, rocket launch sites, and terror infrastructure following a failed projectile launch from Gaza City toward Israel on Thursday. Palestinian medical officials reported 13 people killed across Gaza since early Thursday, including children. In Lebanon, the IDF announced it was striking Hezbollah terror targets in response to ongoing violations.
Closer to home, a disturbing scene unfolded Thursday night in Queens, New York, where keffiyeh-clad activists gathered outside a yeshiva in Kew Gardens Hills, chanting support for Hamas and calling for 'intifada' and 'people's war.' The Palestinian Assembly for Liberation targeted an Israeli real estate event while Jewish families sheltered children inside. Two elementary schools and a daycare closed early in anticipation of the mob. State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, whose district includes the area, has drawn sharp criticism for failing to condemn the demonstration or protect his Jewish constituents.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers raided a school in the West Bank, setting a classroom and cars ablaze in two villages—a reminder that violence cuts across multiple fronts in this volatile region.
The convergence of these events carries weight for those watching through a prophetic lens. Iran's potential collapse recalls ancient Persia's pivotal role in Jewish history, while the sustained pressure on Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, and now American streets suggests the 'birth pangs' many biblical scholars associate with end-times turbulence. A powerful solar eruption on the sun's far side produced a full halo coronal mass ejection overnight, adding celestial drama to an already charged moment. Watch for whether the Revolutionary Guards can suppress Iran's uprising—or whether the regime's foundations crack further in the days ahead.