Tear gas, masked demonstrators and burning vehicles: the protests in Iran have reached a new level of escalation. According to reports, the authorities had previously massively restricted internet access for the population.
The largest demonstrations since the start of the latest wave of protests took place in Iran on Friday night – as pictures on social networks show. Numerous people gathered in the capital Tehran. Other images showed a protesting crowd in the western Iranian city of Abadan, as the AFP news agency reported.
Eyewitnesses reported security forces using tear gas against masked demonstrators. Videos from activists showed burning vehicles.
Protests for twelve days
Persian-language exile broadcasters also broadcast footage of significant protests from other Iranian cities, including Tabriz in the north of the country and the religious center of Mashhad. Mashhad is home to one of the most important shrines in Shiite Islam.
In Tabriz, people shouted “Long live Pahlavi” in reference to the Shah’s son, according to recordings on online networks. Demonstrators repeatedly shouted slogans calling for the overthrow of the Islamic republic, including “Pahlavi will return” – a reference to Reza Pahlavi, the son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The protests have now been going on for twelve days. They were ignited by anger over the high cost of living and the poor economic situation. Since the wave of protests began on December 28th, there have been gatherings in at least 50 towns and cities, especially in the west of the country.
Almost more complete “Internet-Blackout”
The London-based organization NetBlocks also announced on Thursday that the Iranian authorities had blocked the Internet and that the country was now in an “almost complete nationwide Internet blackout.” The Shah’s son Pahlavi, who is active in the Iranian exile opposition, had previously announced that the leadership in Tehran was “deeply frightened” and would cut off the Internet. He had called for further protests on Thursday evening.
The internet blockage is reminiscent of the state’s actions around six years ago: At that time, people were primarily protesting because of rising gasoline prices. The state imposed a nearly week-long lockdown, during which human rights activists estimate hundreds of protesters were killed.
Trump threatens leadership again
In view of the latest wave of protests, US President Donald Trump repeated his previously expressed threats against the leadership in Tehran. “I made it clear to them that if they start killing people, which they often do in their riots – and they have a lot of riots – we will crack down,” Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
According to the latest information from the Norway-based organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 45 demonstrators have been killed since the protests began, including eight minors. Iranian authorities and media have reported 21 deaths so far, including security forces.
