Ursula von der Leyen has said the European Union “fully” supports the anti-government protests in Iran, as demonstrations that began over economic grievances broadened into nationwide unrest and prompted a tightening security response.
In a message posted on X on Saturday, the European Commission president said protesters in Tehran and other cities were demanding “freedom to speak, to gather, to move and, above all, the freedom to live”. She said Europe “unequivocally” condemned what she described as “violent repression” of “legitimate demonstrations” and called for the immediate release of detained protesters, the restoration of full internet access, and respect for fundamental rights.
Tehran’s streets, and cities around the world, echo with the footsteps of Iranian women and men demanding freedom.
Freedom to speak, to gather, to travel and above all to live freely.
Europe stands fully behind them.
We unequivocally condemn the violent repression of these…
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 10, 2026
Von der Leyen’s intervention followed an EU statement issued on Friday by the High Representative on behalf of the bloc, urging Iran to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and calling for the release of people “unjustly detained” for exercising fundamental rights. The statement also called for restoring internet access “for all”.
The protests began on 28 December, initially centred on the rapid depreciation of the Iranian rial, inflation and price increases, with strikes and closures reported in major commercial areas in Tehran. Reporting from the region has described the movement as spreading to multiple provinces and cities, with some demonstrations marked by clashes between protesters and security forces.
Estimates of casualties vary and remain difficult to verify independently, particularly amid disruptions to communications. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has issued rolling tallies cited by international media; Euronews reported at least 42 people killed and more than 2,270 detained as of 9 January, citing HRANA. The Guardian reported on 9 January that HRANA put the death toll at “at least 50”, with detentions above 2,270, and noted other organisations reporting higher figures. Iranian authorities have not issued comprehensive casualty totals in public reporting cited by several outlets.
A prominent feature of the past week has been a sharp reduction in access to online services. Reuters reported that authorities cut the country off from much of the outside world as protests intensified, with videos posted to social media difficult to authenticate and verification constrained. Von der Leyen’s statement on Saturday explicitly called for “the restoration of full internet access”. The EU’s High Representative issued a similar demand on Friday, framing access to information as part of Iran’s international obligations.
Iran’s leadership has signalled that it will not yield to the protests. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic “will not back down”, describing protesters as “vandals”, and accusing them of acting to please US President Donald Trump. A parallel theme in international coverage has been Trump’s public warnings to Iranian authorities. In a Fox News interview, Trump suggested Khamenei might be considering leaving Iran, saying, “He’s looking to go someplace. It’s getting very bad.”
Separately, unverified reports have suggested that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has considered contingency arrangements that would involve leaving the country for Russia if the situation deteriorates, including travel to Moscow with a small circle of aides and family members.
In western Iran, some media have reported that security forces withdrew from two towns, leaving demonstrators in control. i24NEWS identified the locations as Abdanan and Malekshahi, describing them as being in a Kurdish region. The extent and duration of any such control, and the circumstances of security force movements, have not been confirmed in publicly available official statements.
EU institutions have sought to position their response around human rights, access to information and detentions. In Brussels on Friday, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticised what she called a “disproportionate” and “heavy-handed” response and said “any violence against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable”. The same report quoted a Commission spokesperson as saying “regime change” was not part of the EU’s consolidated policy towards Iran.
For the moment, the trajectory of the protests remains unclear. Reports from inside Iran continue to describe demonstrations across multiple urban centres, alongside intensified policing and legal threats against participants. With internet access restricted, outside observers are relying on fragmentary evidence, diaspora reporting and statements from rights organisations. The EU’s top officials have now publicly tied the bloc’s position to the release of detainees and the restoration of communications, while Tehran insists it will not soften its approach.
