Iran says 3,000 people arrested as antigovernment protests subside

"Internet access remains cut off as the streets of Tehran, other Iranian cities are largely calm after widescale unrest. The Iranian authorities say at least 3,000 people have been arrested in weeks of antigovernment demonstrations, state news agencies reported, as the mass protests have largely been quelled. The streets of the Iranian capital Tehran and other parts of the country were comparatively calm on Friday amid a heavy presence of security forces."

"Internet access is unavailable for almost everyone in Iran, Asadi said. Online monitor NetBlocks said on Friday that a nationwide internet blackout had entered its eighth day after Iranian authorities cut off access at the height of the protests last week. Thousands of Iranians had taken to the streets since late December in anger over soaring inflation and the steep devaluation of the local currency, prompting a harsh crackdown from the Iranian authorities."

"Human rights groups say more than 1,000 protesters have been killed since the demonstrations began, while the Iranian government said at least 100 security officers also were killed in protest-related attacks. Al Jazeera has not been able to independently verify those figures. The prospect of a wider escalation loomed this week as US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to order military action against Iran should more protesters be killed."

Internet access remains shut across Iran as security forces restored relative calm to Tehran and other cities following widescale antigovernment unrest. Authorities reported at least 3,000 arrests during weeks of demonstrations triggered by soaring inflation and steep currency devaluation. The crackdown followed mass street protests that began in late December and prompted a heavy security presence and a nationwide internet blackout that entered its eighth day, according to NetBlocks. Public mood was mixed, with anxiety about renewed escalation and frustration over the outage. Human rights groups reported more than 1,000 protester deaths, while Iranian officials said at least 100 security personnel were killed.

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