Tens of thousands of Iranians poured into the streets on Friday night in a second night of mass, nationwide antigovernment protests despite a total internet blackout and threats of a severe crackdown from the senior Iranian leadership.

Iran was largely cut off from the outside world on Friday (January 9) after authorities blacked out the internet to curb expanding protests, with phone calls not reaching the country, flights canceled and online Iranian news sites only intermittently updating.

Iran signaled Friday that security forces would crack down on protesters, directly challenging U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to support those peacefully demonstrating as the death toll rose to at least 50.

Iranian protesters shouted and marched through the streets into Friday morning, despite Iran's theocracy cutting off the nation from the internet and international telephone calls.

Ayatollah Khamenei laid the blame on the US president for fomenting unrest as protests across Iran continued despite the internet blackout after exiled Crown Prince Pahlavi called for mass demonstrations demanding freedom.

Iran's government cut off the country from the internet and international telephone calls Thursday night as a nighttime demonstration called by the country's exiled crown prince drew a mass of protesters to shout from their windows and storm the streets.

The protests pose the biggest internal challenge in at least three years to Iran's clerical rulers, who look more vulnerable than during past bouts of unrest.

Iran's judiciary chief has vowed decisive punishment for protesters, signaling a coming crackdown against demonstrations