Tehran – Iranian protests entered their second week on Sunday, leaving at least 116 people dead and thousands arrested amid tightened security measures.
اضافة اعلان
The Associated Press reported that at least 2,600 individuals have been detained during the unrest, raising concerns among human rights organizations about the treatment of detainees. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei labeled protesters as “enemies of God,” warning that anyone participating would face punishment.
Media coverage inside Iran has been limited, and no official figures on casualties or arrests have been released, making international media the primary source of information. The Iranian authorities have imposed severe restrictions on internet and international communications, widely seen as an effort to curb the spread of protests and information.
The demonstrations began over rising prices, inflation, and deteriorating economic conditions, with many Iranians struggling with declining purchasing power and high unemployment. Over time, the protests expanded into broader opposition against the clerical regime, with some demonstrators calling for the government’s overthrow.
International Reactions and U.S. Response
The United States expressed support for the protesters and warned Iran against using force. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. would respond if Iranian forces fired on demonstrators, escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal indicate that Trump has been briefed on potential military options regarding Iran, including possible strikes, though no final decision has been made. On social media, Trump wrote: “Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before. The United States is ready to help.” The U.S. State Department emphasized: “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he will act, he means it.”
The scenarios under consideration reportedly include targeting non-military sites in Tehran. Due to internet and phone outages, assessing the protests’ full scope from outside Iran remains difficult. Rights groups, including the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, have confirmed the death toll and detentions, citing their verified accuracy in previous protest coverage.
Domestic Situation in Iran
State media have focused on security forces’ losses, describing protesters increasingly as “terrorists” while not reporting civilian casualties. Protests continued in Tehran and Mashhad on Sunday. Supreme Leader Khamenei hinted at imminent harsh crackdowns. Attorney General Mohammad Mohahedi Azad declared that anyone participating in protests or aiding “rioters” would be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge that could carry the death penalty.
The protests erupted on December 28 following a sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial, which fell past 1.4 million rials per U.S. dollar, amid escalating economic pressure from international sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program. Former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, now in exile, called on demonstrators to take to the streets carrying symbols from the pre-revolutionary era.
Concerns are mounting that the internet shutdown may enable security forces to carry out a deadly crackdown, reminiscent of the 2019 protests when hundreds were killed. Ali Rahmani, son of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, warned: “They are fighting a dictatorial regime at the cost of their lives, and we can only fear the worst.”
