Iran's nationwide protests appear increasingly smothered after crackdown and internet outage

"The nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy appeared increasingly smothered Thursday, a week after authorities shut the country off from the world and escalated a bloody crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people. The prospect of U.S. retaliation for the deaths of protesters still hung over the region, though President Donald Trump signaled a possible de-escalation, saying the killing appeared to be ending."

"In Iran's capital, Tehran, witnesses said recent mornings showed no new signs of bonfires lit the night before or debris in the streets. The sound of gunfire, which had been intense for several nights, has also faded. Meanwhile, Iranian state media has announced wave after wave of arrests by authorities, targeting those it calls "terrorists" while also apparently looking for Starlink satellite internet dishes, which offer the only way to get videos and images out to the internet."

""Since Jan. 8, we saw a full-fledged war, and anybody who was in the gathering since then is a criminal," said Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi, according to a report Wednesday from the judiciary's Mizan news agency. Iranian state media broadcast a roster of damage from what it called a "terrorist operation," including damage to hundreds of stores and public buildings, scores of cars and ambulances and several "heritage sites." including mosques and shrines."

Nationwide protests in Iran have been largely smothered after authorities cut external communications and launched a violent crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people. The United States announced new sanctions on Iranian officials accused of suppressing the demonstrations while President Donald Trump suggested the killing appeared to be ending. In Tehran, mornings showed fewer signs of street unrest and gunfire has subsided. Iranian state media reported waves of arrests targeting "terrorists" and listed extensive damage to stores, public buildings, vehicles and heritage sites. Authorities reportedly sought Starlink satellite dishes used to transmit videos abroad, and China described the situation as stable.

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