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Iran Protests Intensify: Death Toll Rises Amidst Internet Blackout and Escalating Threats
Dubai, UAE – Protests challenging Iran’s theocratic rule have entered their third week, with demonstrations flooding the streets of Tehran and Mashhad over the weekend. U.S.-based activist groups report a grim surge in the death toll, now standing at at least 538 people amidst a near-total internet and phone line shutdown within Iran.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which relies on an extensive network of contacts inside Iran, indicates that 490 of the deceased are protesters, while 48 are members of the security forces. HRANA also states that over 10,600 individuals have been detained in connection with the unrest, cautioning that these figures are likely to increase. The Iranian government has yet to release any official casualty numbers.
These widespread demonstrations represent the most significant challenge to Iran’s leadership in years. In response, Iranian authorities have issued increasingly severe threats, blaming the unrest on “agitators” influenced by the U.S. and Israel.
Threats and Counter-Threats Escalate Between Iran and U.S.
The rhetoric has intensified, with Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warning that U.S. military assets and Israel would become “legitimate targets” if the U.S. were to strike the Islamic Republic, a threat previously made by former President Donald Trump. During a parliamentary session, lawmakers were reportedly heard shouting “Death to America!”
Concerns are mounting internationally that the current information blackout in Iran could embolden hard-liners within the security services to launch a brutal crackdown, despite warnings from Mr. Trump about potential U.S. intervention if protesters are harmed.
On Saturday, Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before.
The USA stands ready to help!!!” Maziar Bahari, editor of IranWire, suggested this statement likely inspired protesters while potentially unnerving Iranian officials.
CBS News confirmed that Mr. Trump has been briefed on potential military strike options against Iran, a detail also reported by The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous U.S. officials.
Iranian Lawmaker Warns of Preemptive Strikes
During a live televised Sunday parliament session, hard-liner Qalibaf lauded the police and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, particularly its Basij volunteers, for their “firm stand” against the protests. He declared, “The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested.”
Qalibaf then directly threatened Israel and the U.S. military, suggesting the possibility of a preemptive strike. “In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets,” he warned. “We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.”
The seriousness of Iran’s threat remains unclear, particularly after its air defenses were reportedly compromised during a 12-day conflict with Israel in June, which also saw U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Any decision for war would ultimately rest with Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The U.S. military has affirmed its posture in the Mideast with “forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies and U.S. interests.” An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, indicated that Israel is “watching closely” the unfolding situation, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having discussed Iran with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Iran has previously targeted U.S. forces, including an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in June. The U.S. Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet is stationed in Bahrain.
Death Sentences Threatened for Protesters
Online videos, likely transmitted via Starlink satellite, have purportedly shown gatherings in northern Tehran’s Punak neighborhood, with protesters using illuminated mobile phones and fireworks. Other footage depicted peaceful marches and car horn protests.
HRANA noted that in the capital, protests have been “scattered, short-lived, and fluid gatherings,” adapting to the heavy security presence. The agency also reported “surveillance drones flying overhead and movements by security forces around protest locations,” indicating ongoing monitoring.
In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, videos reportedly showed protesters clashing with security forces, with flaming debris blocking roads. Protests also appeared in Kerman. The significance of protests in Mashhad is particularly high, as it is home to the Imam Reza shrine, a holy site in Shiite Islam.
Iranian state television on Sunday sought to counter these narratives by broadcasting segments from various cities, showing calm areas with date stamps, though Tehran and Mashhad were notably absent. They also aired footage of pro-government demonstrations in Qom and Qazvin.
Despite U.S. warnings, Supreme Leader Khamenei has signaled a coming crackdown. On Saturday, Iran’s Attorney General, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, escalated threats, declaring that anyone participating in protests would be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge punishable by death. State television carried the statement, adding that even those who “helped rioters” would face the same charge.
Iran cut off internet access and international phone calls on Thursday, though some state-owned and semi-official media were permitted to publish. Al Jazeera was reportedly the only major foreign news outlet able to operate live from Iran.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who had previously called for protests, urged demonstrators to continue taking to the streets over the weekend, advocating for the use of Iran’s old lion-and-sun flag and other national symbols to “claim public spaces as your own.” Pahlavi’s past support from Israel has drawn criticism. While some protesters have chanted in support of the Shah, it remains unclear if this indicates direct support for Pahlavi or a desire to return to a pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.
The demonstrations, which began on December 28th, were initially sparked by the collapse of the Iranian rial, trading at over 1.4 million to $1, as the economy continues to suffer under international sanctions related to its nuclear program. The protests have since evolved into direct challenges against Iran’s theocracy.
Pope Leo XIV Calls for Dialogue and Peace
Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for those affected by the protests in Iran and the conflict in Syria, advocating for dialogue and peace. During his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the U.S.-born pontiff stated, “My thoughts turn to what is happening these days in the Middle East, particularly in Iran and Syria, where persistent tensions are causing the deaths of many people. I hope and pray for the patient cultivation of dialogue and peace, for the common good of society as a whole.”