Jafar Panahi Warns of Looming Bloodshed Amid Iran Unrest
Iranian director Jafar Panahi urges the world to pay attention as mass protests grip Iran, warning of a potential massacre as the government cracks down and communication lines go dark.
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has called on the world to pay close attention to the ongoing unrest in his homeland, voicing deep concern over the escalating protests and the government’s harsh response. Speaking in a recent interview, Panahi didn’t mince words, stating,
“A massacre is coming.”
The director, best known for his work on 'It Was Just An Accident', has drawn from his own experiences as a former prisoner in Iran, where he was detained for what authorities labelled as anti-government propaganda.
His latest film, inspired by his time behind bars, has been making waves internationally, picking up four nominations at the 2026 Golden Globes, including a nod for Best Motion Picture – Drama. While Panahi has been in the spotlight abroad, his home country has been rocked by widespread demonstrations, with reports suggesting that over 2,000 people have lost their lives so far. The government has responded with a heavy hand, imposing a near-total blackout on communications and internet access since last week.
Communication Blackout and Rising Tensions
Panahi described the situation on the ground as dire, explaining that the regime has lost any remaining legitimacy in the eyes of many Iranians.
“The Islamic Republic has entirely lost its legitimacy, and now there is no more doubt of that,”
he said. According to Panahi, the authorities are at a crossroads, facing what he sees as the most significant protests in recent memory.
“It appears that the regime is finding itself at a dead end, and the protests this year seem to be the most important of anything that’s happened all these years, and because it is about its existence or non-existence, it is going to do anything.”
He went on to highlight the extent of the communication shutdown, noting that both internet and phone lines have been cut off.
“The internet and the phones are all shut down. We cannot call cell phones or landlines; everything is disconnected. When they shut down the internet completely, we knew what was going on: it means a massacre is coming.”
Panahi’s words paint a bleak picture, with the blackout making it nearly impossible for locals to share information or reach out for help.
Personal Stakes and International Reactions
Panahi himself is facing fresh legal trouble back home, having recently been handed another one-year prison sentence in absentia. He’s currently appealing the decision, but has said he’ll return to Iran after wrapping up his film’s international promo tour. The protests, which first erupted in late December over soaring inflation and shortages of basic goods, have since morphed into a broader movement against the regime and its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
These demonstrations are among the largest in the country’s history, with some experts suggesting they could even pave the way for major political change. The international community has started to take notice, with US President Donald Trump threatening military action if the regime resorts to violence against protestors, and slapping a 25 per cent tariff on nations trading with Iran.
Panahi’s Plea to the World
Despite the uncertainty, Panahi remains adamant that the world must not look away.
“I don’t know what can be done,”
he admitted, but stressed that everyone – from journalists to everyday citizens and politicians – has a role to play.
“Anything they can do, they must.”
His message is clear: the situation in Iran demands urgent attention, and silence is not an option.