Mass protests in Iran, triggered by the country's severe economic situation, have been ongoing for nearly two weeks. Demonstrations are taking place across the country and often escalate into clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel. Human rights organizations report that Iranian security forces have used firearms against demonstrators. Additionally, internet outages and mobile network disruptions have been reported in many regions, significantly hindering the acquisition of timely information about the situation.
According to BBC's Persian service, the deaths of 22 individuals have been confirmed, whose identities have been established. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities reported six security personnel killed. However, independent human rights organizations report higher figures. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization claims that at least 45 people died during the suppression of the protests, including eight minors. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports at least 34 protesters killed, four security personnel killed, and over 2,200 arrested.
According to HRANA, protest actions have spread across 111 cities and towns throughout all provinces of Iran. The discontent has also affected educational institutions: final exams at one of Tehran's largest universities, Amir Kabir University, were postponed by one week, according to ISNA news agency.
A major internet outage occurred in the country on Thursday, which, according to monitoring group NetBlocks, continued into Friday. As a result, messages from Iran are delayed and not always received in full. Serious problems with telephone communication have also been reported.
Amid the escalating crisis, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a televised address to the nation. He labeled the protesters vandals, claiming they are destroying their own cities in the interests of foreign states. Khamenei emphasized that the Islamic Republic has no intention of making concessions to 'saboteurs,' and strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that Trump's hands are 'bloodied' with Iranians. According to the Ayatollah, the 'arrogant' Trump will ultimately face collapse, just as the Shah's dynasty was overthrown in Iran.
The reasons for the protests lie primarily in the severe economic situation. The first demonstrations began on December 28, when shop owners took to the streets of Tehran to protest the latest sharp decline in the Iranian rial's exchange rate against the US dollar on the free market. In the past year, Iran's national currency has reached record low levels, and inflation has approached 40%. The country's economy is under strong pressure due to international sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program, as well as chronic issues such as inefficient governance and high levels of corruption, which have become one of the key causes of widespread public dissatisfaction.