As protests continue to rage across Iran, the country’s security forces have unleashed a brutal crackdown, with at least 2,400 protesters reported killed in the nationwide unrest that has threatened the rule of the Islamic regime. Thousands more have been arrested, and the government has imposed an internet blackout in a bid to stifle the flow of information.
The protests began on 28 December, sparked by a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial, against the US dollar. University students soon joined the demonstrations, which then spread to other cities, with wider calls for political change. Expressions of support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah, have become more widespread.
In response, the authorities have employed a range of weapons, including water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, against the protesters. Medics have reported that hospitals have been “overwhelmed” with dead and injured. The judiciary chief has vowed “swift and harsh” punishment, warning courts to show no leniency toward “rioters.”
The crackdown has been devastating, with HRANA, a US-based Iranian human rights group, reporting that 2,417 protesters, 12 children, 147 people affiliated with the security forces and government, and 10 uninvolved civilians have been confirmed killed since the protests began. The group has also received 829 other reports of deaths that remain under review.
Amid the violence, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military intervention if security forces kill peaceful protesters. He has also vowed to take “very strong action” if any of the detained protesters are executed.
Trump’s comments have escalated tensions, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that the country is “fully prepared for war” if attacked, but also ready for “fair” negotiations. The US has been a leading opponent of Iran’s nuclear program, and the two countries have been major adversaries since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The ongoing internet blackout has made it increasingly difficult to obtain information about the situation on the ground. However, some Iranians have managed to use Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to circumvent the restrictions, despite the terminals being banned in the country.
As the crackdown continues and the international community watches with growing concern, the future of Iran’s protest movement remains uncertain. The government’s response has been uncompromising, but the determination of the protesters to challenge the regime’s authority appears undiminished.