Protests in Iran have entered their second week, with authorities cracking down on demonstrators. The situation remains tense as the Islamic Republic isolates itself from the outside world. With internet and phone lines down, it's challenging to assess the true scale of the protests from abroad. However, the death toll has risen to at least 65, and over 2,300 individuals have been detained, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Iranian state TV reports on security force casualties while attempting to maintain control over the nation.
The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has signaled a harsh response, despite U.S. warnings. Tehran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, threatened protesters with the death penalty, labeling them as 'enemies of God.' This statement, carried by state television, also warned that those who 'helped rioters' would face the same fate. The prosecutor's office is urged to act swiftly and decisively, ensuring no leniency in the trials of those accused of betraying the nation and seeking foreign domination.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the protesters, stating that the United States stands with the brave people of Iran. The State Department also issued a warning, emphasizing the seriousness of President Trump's threats. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV played a martial song during pro-government demonstrations, honoring the liberation of Khorramshahr during the Iran-Iraq war. This song has also been associated with videos of protesting women cutting their hair in mourning for Mahsa Amini's death in 2022.
Despite the government's efforts to control the narrative, online videos and surveillance camera footage from Isfahan and Tehran's Saadat Abad area have emerged, showing thousands of protesters chanting 'Death to Khamenei!' and engaging in violent clashes. The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to the Revolutionary Guard, released footage of a protester firing a long gun and setting fires. The Young Journalists' Club, associated with state TV, reported several deaths of security forces, including a stabbed security official in Hamadan province and a slain individual in Mashhad.
The semiofficial Tasnim news agency claimed the authorities detained nearly 200 people, alleging they were part of 'operational terrorist teams' with weapons. State television also aired a funeral service attended by hundreds in Qom, a Shiite seminary city. Iran's theocracy has imposed strict measures, cutting off the internet and international calls, while allowing some state-owned and semiofficial media to publish. Qatar's Al Jazeera was the only major foreign outlet able to report live from Iran.
The exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who called for protests, urged demonstrators to take to the streets on Saturday and Sunday, carrying national symbols. However, his support from Israel has faced criticism, especially after the 12-day war. Demonstrators have shown mixed reactions, with some chanting in support of the shah, but it remains unclear if this is support for Pahlavi or a desire to return to the pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era. The protests, which began over economic issues, have evolved into direct challenges to Iran's theocracy.
Airlines have canceled flights to Iran due to the demonstrations, with Austrian Airlines and Turkish Airlines taking precautionary measures. The protests, which started on December 28 over the collapsing Iranian rial, have intensified, with protesters demanding an end to the theocracy's rule.
