TEHRAN: The anti-government protests in Iran have become extremely violent as the death toll has exceeded 45 and among the deceased reported are also security forces since the protests started on the 28th of December. The protests have been primarily due to the prevailing economic crisis in the country and have reached 27 provinces, as shopkeepers and the public have joined the protests.
The foreign press has reported that the unrest has spread mainly to the big cities with people on the streets making bonfires out of tires and blocking the roads. Armed groups of protesters in some parts have been throwing rocks and shooting at the police.
According to Iranian state media, to bring the riot under control and stop its spread, more police and security forces have been dispatched to the whole country. Still, the protests do not simmer down; on the contrary, they grow louder as people demand that the government to intervene regarding the prices that they are paying because of the currency that lost its value almost overnight.
Internet Shutdown Across the Country
To put an end to the protests, the Iranian regime has cut off internet services all over the country, thus making it difficult for people to gather and report about it. The worldwide internet monitoring organization NetBlocks has verified the shutdown but the government has not given any clear reasons for the action taken. This is not the very first time that Iran has unplugged itself from the internet when the situations get tough.
Trump warns Iran of “Severe Consequences” over protestors’ killings
The US President Donald Trump has once more delivered a powerful message to Iran by threatening severe repercussions in case the Iranian authorities persist in the use of lethal force against the protestors.
President Trump, during an interview, mentioned that if at any point protestors were killed in the course of the violence, then the U.S. would respond in a “strong and decisive” manner. He pointed out that Iran had been given a very clear warning that murder of protestors would be met with the same resistance.
“I’ve made it very clear to Iran that if they start killing people, as they often do, we won’t stand by silently,” said Trump. “They will pay a heavy price.”
The recent protests in Iran have prompted government forces to react with increasing violence and it has been reported that security forces have returned gunfire from the demonstrators, resulting in the death of at least two officers. Trump, however, has maintained that not all protest-related deaths can be ascribed to security forces since some individuals have died mainly from stampedes.
“You know, the loss of life is a tragedy, but at the same time we cannot just say that one side is responsible for all deaths,” Trump said. “Nevertheless, we have already informed Iran that should they persist in such actions, they will incur very heavy costs.”
President Trump said to the Iranians who were demonstrating that the U.S. stands by them and added, “You are not just a crowd; you are the courageous and resilient ones proclaiming your rights. It hurts a lot to see the fate of your country, which was once robust and now so frail.”
The protests in Iran that have been going on for almost 12 days now originated from the rampant inflation and huge devaluation of the national currency. The state’s response to the protests has been violent and dozens have been killed. The U.S. had already alerted Iran to the consequences of using military force against civilians.
