Iranian Protests Enter Third Week As Crackdown Intensifies And Reported Death Toll Rises

"Anti-government protests in Iran continued for a 15th straight day on January 11, with demonstrators gathering on the streets of Tehran as a harsh security crackdown intensified and the number of reported deaths continued to rise. Rights groups and government media reported protests, arrests, and violence in dozens of towns and cities, as demonstrations entered a third week despite mounting pressure from security forces."

"A man who witnessed a crackdown on protests in eastern Tehran told RFE/RL's Radio Farda late on January 10 that the repression of demonstrations has escalated sharply, describing the situation in the city as resembling "war scenes." The man, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said the continuous sound of pellet-gun fire has been heard across the Iranian capital in recent nights, while drones have been flying constantly over neighborhoods to monitor streets and alleyways."

Anti-government protests in Iran entered a 15th consecutive day on January 11, with demonstrators gathering across Tehran amid an intensified security crackdown and rising reported deaths. Rights groups and state-aligned media reported protests, arrests, and violence in dozens of towns and cities as demonstrations persisted into a third week. Witnesses described scenes resembling war, with pellet-gun fire heard at night and drones monitoring neighborhoods. The unrest was triggered by soaring prices, high inflation, and a plunging national currency and has emerged as one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic republic in years. Officials blamed foreign-linked "terrorists" and vowed harsh legal action.

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty