TEHRAN: new wave of violent nationwide protests over Iran’s worsening economic crisis has left at least 45 people dead since December 28, according to foreign media reports. The unrest, now entering its second week, has spread to 27 provinces as citizens and shopkeepers demonstrate daily against soaring inflation and the currency’s sharp decline.
The protests have grown increasingly confrontational. In major cities, demonstrators have burned tires and blocked roads, while Iranian state media reports that “armed miscreants” have thrown stones and opened fire on police. Authorities have responded with a significant security crackdown, deploying additional police and security personnel across the country in an attempt to contain the spreading dissent.
Simultaneously, Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total internet shutdown across the country. The internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed the severe disruption, noting that while the precise trigger is unclear, the government has repeatedly used internet blackouts during past protests to suppress the flow of information and hinder mobilization.
The sustained protests highlight deep-seated public anger over the country’s dire economic conditions. The international community has taken note, with the U.S. President issuing a stark warning in an interview, threatening a “strong and very harsh” response if protesters are killed. The situation presents a severe challenge to the Iranian government as it attempts to quell the unrest amid mounting internal and external pressure.
