Iran: The protests, the blackout and the narrative war

"This past week, Iranian protesters were labelled terrorists and saboteurs by the state. That rhetoric was accompanied by an internet blackout and a surge in violence, with the death toll still unclear. Simultaneously, tensions between the United States and Iran escalated, raising the stakes in what has become one of the most serious political upheavals in the country in years."

"Contributors: Tohid Asadi Correspondent, Al Jazeera English Narges Bajoghli Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University Roxane Farmanfarmaian Lecturer, University Of Cambridge Farzan Sabet Managing Researcher, Global Governance Centre"

Authorities labelled protesters terrorists and saboteurs, intensifying criminalization of dissent across multiple cities. An internet blackout accompanied the rhetoric, limiting information flow and hindering independent verification of events. Violence surged as security forces and demonstrators clashed, leaving the death toll unclear and families searching for missing relatives. At the same time, tensions between the United States and Iran escalated, increasing regional and diplomatic stakes. The combined domestic crackdown and international strain have transformed the unrest into one of the most serious political upheavals in the country in years, creating widespread fear and uncertainty.

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