For a second consecutive week, demonstrations have convulsed the streets of Iran, with protesters defying a brutal and escalating security crackdown that has reportedly left scores dead. The unrest, which began on 28 December, represents the most significant challenge to the theocratic regime in recent years.
Blackout and Bloodshed
In a move to stifle dissent and obscure the scale of the violence, Iranian authorities imposed a sweeping internet and mobile communications shutdown on Thursday. This digital blackout has severely hampered the flow of information, making it difficult for international observers to verify events on the ground.
Despite the blockade, harrowing accounts and videos have trickled out via satellite systems like Starlink. These sources depict a heavy-handed police response, with security forces accused of firing live ammunition at crowds. The US-based Human Rights Activist News agency reports at least 65 fatalities and over 2,300 arrests since the protests began.
One protester in Tehran, communicating via sporadic Starlink messages, told The Guardian they had seen "hundreds of bodies." Another activist described witnessing a "very high" number of killings. Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi warned that security forces might be preparing for a "massacre" under the cover of the communications blackout.
Defiance and International Reaction
The protests, initially sparked by a deteriorating economy, have rapidly evolved into a direct political challenge. In videos from Tehran and Mashhad—the hometown of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—crowds have chanted "death to Khamenei" and voiced support for the exiled former monarchy.
The international community has rallied around the demonstrators. The EU and US have issued statements of support, with former US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posting, "The United States supports the brave people of Iran." Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention if protesters are killed, remarks that have drawn angry rebukes from Tehran.
Iranian authorities, meanwhile, have adopted a confrontational rhetoric. The regime labels protesters as "vandals" and "rioters" infiltrated by US and Israeli saboteurs. The Iranian army vowed on Saturday to foil "the enemy's plots," declaring national security a "red line." State television has attempted to downplay the unrest, airing what human rights groups believe are forced confessions from detained protesters—a practice often used to justify executions.
A Regime Under Pressure
Analysts suggest the regime is in a vulnerable state, weakened by its recent military confrontations with Israel and losses of Iranian-backed forces across the region. This vulnerability may be contributing to the severity of its response.
Despite the risks, the protest movement shows no sign of abating. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former Shah, has called for further demonstrations over the weekend, urging protesters to fly the pre-1979 flag. He claims tens of thousands within Iran's security apparatus have signalled a desire to defect.
As the internet blackout persists, activists continue to plead with the world to bear witness. "Please make sure to state clearly that they are killing people with live ammunition," one Iranian activist implored, underscoring the brutal reality facing those demanding change.
