Iran's government has escalated threats against protesters as demonstrations near the two-week mark, with the country's leadership refusing to acknowledge the scope of the unrest. Despite the ongoing crackdown, protests have continued unabated, with demonstrators demanding change and an end to what they see as a theocratic regime that prioritizes authoritarianism over democracy.
According to Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 65 people have been killed and over 2,300 others detained in the protests, which began on December 28 over economic issues but have since turned into full-blown anti-government demonstrations. The internet and phone lines have been severely restricted, making it difficult for observers from abroad to assess the situation.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signaled a coming crackdown, despite warnings from the US that any further violence would only exacerbate the situation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged calm, saying "The United States supports the brave people of Iran," but also warned that President Trump means what he says and will take action if necessary.
Despite the government's efforts to spin the narrative, videos and reports from within Iran contradict its claims of a peaceful demonstration-free night in major cities. Protests were reported in northern Tehran, Isfahan, and other areas, with demonstrators chanting slogans against Khamenei and other high-ranking officials. The use of state-controlled media to broadcast pro-government messages has also been criticized for its lack of credibility.
The situation is likely to remain volatile as demonstrations are planned for the coming weekend. Iranian exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has called on protesters to take to the streets, urging them to carry national symbols and claim public spaces as their own. However, it remains unclear whether this is a genuine attempt at reform or a ploy by the exile community to further destabilize the country.
The protests are part of a broader movement that seeks to challenge Iran's authoritarian regime and its economic policies, which have been severely impacted by international sanctions. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the Iranian people will not be silenced or intimidated, and their demands for change will only grow louder in the days ahead.
According to Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 65 people have been killed and over 2,300 others detained in the protests, which began on December 28 over economic issues but have since turned into full-blown anti-government demonstrations. The internet and phone lines have been severely restricted, making it difficult for observers from abroad to assess the situation.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signaled a coming crackdown, despite warnings from the US that any further violence would only exacerbate the situation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged calm, saying "The United States supports the brave people of Iran," but also warned that President Trump means what he says and will take action if necessary.
Despite the government's efforts to spin the narrative, videos and reports from within Iran contradict its claims of a peaceful demonstration-free night in major cities. Protests were reported in northern Tehran, Isfahan, and other areas, with demonstrators chanting slogans against Khamenei and other high-ranking officials. The use of state-controlled media to broadcast pro-government messages has also been criticized for its lack of credibility.
The situation is likely to remain volatile as demonstrations are planned for the coming weekend. Iranian exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has called on protesters to take to the streets, urging them to carry national symbols and claim public spaces as their own. However, it remains unclear whether this is a genuine attempt at reform or a ploy by the exile community to further destabilize the country.
The protests are part of a broader movement that seeks to challenge Iran's authoritarian regime and its economic policies, which have been severely impacted by international sanctions. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the Iranian people will not be silenced or intimidated, and their demands for change will only grow louder in the days ahead.
. I mean, 65+ deaths and over 2k detentions? That's crazy. The gov't seems to be refusing to acknowledge the scope of the unrest, which just makes it worse. It's like they're not taking the people's concerns seriously at all.
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that we'll see some real progress soon.
i cant believe its been like 2 weeks since these protests started and the government still refuses to acknowledge them? 65+ dead and over 2300 detained is insane 
and its not just about the numbers its about the fact that people are fighting for their rights and freedom. i feel so bad for all those protesters who have lost loved ones or been arrested and tortured. 
people are getting tired of being controlled. 65 lives lost already and many more detained... it's like they're trying to erase them from existence 
. can't let the regime spin the narrative, gotta show its true colors 
. international pressure might just push things forward 
I'm getting super worried about what's happening in Iran 
. The US says they'll take action if necessary, which gives me hope 
. The fact that people are still taking to the streets despite all this shows how determined they are for change 
. We need to stay vigilant and support them in any way we can! 
but at the same time, i feel bad for him cuz his life cant be easy leading a country like that. oh, and did you know that my brother went to iran once and they have these amazing kebabs there 
btw, how do people even get news in iran when its like, super restricted online? 
this is getting out of hand 
also, Marco Rubio saying "brave people" sounds super condescending 
. He sounds like he actually cares about the ppl in Iran 
!
i dont get why supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei cant just acknowledge the scope of unrest & talk 2 ppl instead of escalatin threats 
meanwhile, iran exiled crown prince reza pahlavi is callin on protesters to take action & it's like... unclear if he's tryin 4 reform or just stirrin up trouble 
. It's not like they're asking for a lot, just democracy and human rights 
. We need to stand with the people of Iran and support their right to protest peacefully 
. hope the gov comes to the table or the protests just get more violent 
. The fact that they're restricting the internet and phone lines is just a slap in the face, you know? And those numbers - 65 people killed and over 2,300 detained? It's just heartbreaking 
2k+ people detained already, that's just insane 
US secretary of state said calm down but president trump is all like "i'll take care of it" 
anyway, i feel for the ppl in iran who just want better life & freedom 
yet vids from inside Iran are still poppin' up on socials showing protests goin' on everywhere. It feels like they're just tryin' to control the narrative but the truth is out there, fam 
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I don't trust the official story at all. The US is saying one thing, but what if they're just trying to cover their own tracks? And Marco Rubio's warning about President Trump taking action... yeah right. That sounds like a setup to me.
. Meanwhile, the Iranian government is all like "Hey, we're not doing anything wrong!"