Protesters in Iran continued to demonstrate despite a government crackdown, with medical personnel at two hospitals informing the BBC that over 100 bodies had been received in just two days.
Verified videos and eyewitness accounts indicated an escalation in the government’s response.
Iran’s attorney general declared that anyone participating in protests would be labeled an “enemy of God,” a charge that could lead to the death penalty.
US President Donald Trump has warned of severe consequences for Iran if they “start killing people.”
In response, Iran’s parliamentary speaker stated that if the US attacks, Israel and all American military and shipping bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets.
The protests, ignited by rampant inflation, have spread to over 100 cities and towns across all provinces in Iran. Demonstrators are now calling for the end of the clerical regime led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei has dismissed the protesters as a “bunch of vandals” trying to “please” Trump. On Saturday, Trump stated that the US is “ready to help” as Iran seeks “FREEDOM.”
As the protests grow more intense, the death toll and number of injuries continue to rise. Two human rights organizations have reported that over 100 individuals, including security personnel, have been killed.
Hospital staff have reported being overwhelmed with casualties, with reporters confirming that 70 bodies were brought to a hospital in Rasht on Friday night, and a health worker in Tehran reported approximately 38 deaths at a local hospital.
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Iran’s police chief announced on state television that the government had increased its confrontational tactics against protesters, with several “key figures” arrested on Saturday night.
He attributed a “significant proportion of fatalities” to “trained and directed individuals,” rather than security forces, but did not provide further details.
Since the protests began on December 28, more than 2,500 people have been arrested, according to a human rights organization.
Most reporters and international news agencies have been unable to report from within Iran, as the government imposed an internet blackout on Thursday, complicating efforts to gather and verify information.
Despite these challenges, some video footage has surfaced, and journalists have managed to communicate with individuals on the ground.
Several recently verified videos show confrontations between protesters and security forces in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city.
In Tehran, a verified video from Saturday night shows protesters taking to the streets in the Gisha district. Other verified footage from the capital depicts a large group of demonstrators making noise by banging pots in Punak Square, as well as a crowd marching in the Heravi district, calling for the downfall of the clerical regime.
Internet access in Iran is primarily restricted to a domestic intranet with limited connections to the outside world. However, during the current protests, authorities have imposed significant restrictions on this intranet for the first time.
An expert informed reporters that the current internet shutdown is more severe than during the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests in 2022. Alireza Manafi, an internet researcher, mentioned that the only feasible way to access the outside world is through Starlink satellite internet, but he cautioned users that such connections could be monitored by the government.
While he did not provide further details, U.S. media outlets reported that Trump had received briefings on potential military actions against Iran.
On Sunday, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last king, who resides in the U.S. and whose return protesters have been advocating for, shared a video on X. The caption read: “Your compatriots around the world are proudly amplifying your voice.
Especially President Trump, as the leader of the free world, has been closely observing your remarkable courage and has expressed his willingness to assist you.” He added, “I know that I will soon be by your side.”
Pahlavi claimed that the Islamic Republic is experiencing a “severe shortage of mercenaries” and that “many armed and security personnel have either abandoned their posts or refused orders to suppress the people.” The BBC has not been able to verify these statements.
He urged people to continue their protests on Sunday evening but advised them to stay in groups or crowds to avoid “putting their lives at risk.”
Amnesty International reported that it is examining “disturbing reports of security forces escalating their unlawful use of lethal force against protesters” since Thursday.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that those opposing Khamenei’s government should not face “the threat of violence or retaliation.”
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 78 protesters and 38 security personnel have been killed in the last two weeks. Norway-based Iran Human Rights reported that at least 192 protesters have died.
Amiry-Moghaddam remarked, “The killings of protesters over the past three days, particularly following the nationwide internet shutdown, may be even more widespread than we currently realize.”
A source also confirmed the identities of 26 individuals who have been killed, including six children in the past three days.
More than 550 people were killed and 20,000 detained by security forces over several months, according to human rights groups.
