On this body seize from video obtained by the AP exterior Iran, a masked demonstrator holds an image of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi throughout a protest in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 9. AP-Yonhap
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nationwide protests difficult Iran’s theocracy reached the two-week mark Sunday, because the demise toll in violence surrounding the demonstrations reached no less than 116 folks killed, activists mentioned.
With the web down in Iran and telephone traces reduce off , gauging the demonstrations from overseas has grown harder. However the demise toll within the protests has grown to no less than 116 and over 2,600 others detained, in accordance with the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists Information Company. The company has been correct in a number of rounds of earlier unrest in Iran.
Iranian state TV is reporting on safety power casualties whereas portraying management over the nation, with out discussing lifeless demonstrators, whom it more and more refers to as “terrorists.” Nonetheless, it additionally acknowledged protests went on into Sunday morning, with demonstrations in Tehran and within the holy metropolis of Mashhad to the northeast.
Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signaled a coming clampdown, regardless of U.S. warnings. Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with the Iran’s legal professional normal, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that anybody participating in protests can be thought of an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty cost. The assertion carried by Iranian state tv mentioned even those that “helped rioters” would face the cost.
“Prosecutors should fastidiously and at once, by issuing indictments, put together the grounds for the trial and decisive confrontation with those that, by betraying the nation and creating insecurity, search overseas domination over the nation,” the assertion learn. “Proceedings have to be performed with out leniency, compassion or indulgence.”
U.S. President Donald Trump provided help for the protesters, saying on social media that “Iran is taking a look at FREEDOM, maybe like by no means earlier than. The USA stands prepared to assist!!!” The New York Instances and Wall Avenue Journal, reporting citing nameless U.S. officers, mentioned on Saturday evening that Trump had been given army choices for a strike on Iran, however hadn’t made a last resolution.
The State Division individually warned: “Don’t play video games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do one thing, he means it.”
Saturday marked the beginning of the work week in Iran, however many faculties and universities reportedly held on-line lessons, Iranian state TV reported. Inner Iranian authorities web sites are believed to be functioning.
State TV repeatedly performed a driving, martial orchestral association from the “Epic of Khorramshahr” by Iranian composer Majid Entezami , whereas exhibiting pro-government demonstrations. The track, aired repeatedly through the 12-day battle launched by Israel, honors Iran’s 1982 liberation of the town of Khorramshahr through the Iran-Iraq battle. It has been utilized in movies of protesting girls reducing away their hair to protest the 2022 demise of Mahsa Amini as nicely.
It additionally repeatedly aired video of purported protesters capturing at safety forces with firearms.
In a single on-line video verified by The Related Press, protesters demonstrated Friday in northern Tehran’s Saadat Abad space, with what gave the impression to be 1000’s on the road.
“Demise to Khamenei!” a person chanted.
On this body seize from video taken by a person not employed by The Related Press and obtained by the AP exterior Iran exhibits a hearth as folks protest in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 9. AP-Yonhap
The semiofficial Fars information company, believed to be near Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and one of many few media shops in a position to publish to the skin world, launched surveillance digital camera footage of what it mentioned got here from demonstrations in Isfahan. In it, a protester appeared to fireplace an extended gun, whereas others set fires and threw gasoline bombs at what gave the impression to be a authorities compound.
The Younger Journalists’ Membership, related to state TV, reported that protesters killed three members of the Guard’s all-volunteer Basij power within the metropolis of Gachsaran. It additionally reported a safety official was stabbed to demise in Hamadan province, a police officer killed within the port metropolis of Bandar Abbas and one other in Gilan, in addition to one individual slain in Mashhad.
The semiofficial Tasnim information company, additionally near the Guard, claimed authorities detained practically 200 folks belonging to what it described as “operational terrorist groups.” It alleged these arrested had weapons together with firearms, grenades and gasoline bombs.
State tv additionally aired footage of a funeral service attended by tons of in Qom, a Shiite seminary metropolis simply south of Tehran.
Iran’s theocracy reduce off the nation from the web and worldwide phone calls on Thursday, although it allowed some state-owned and semiofficial media to publish. Qatar’s state-funded Al Jazeera information community reported dwell from Iran, however they gave the impression to be the one main overseas outlet in a position to work.
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi , who referred to as for protests Thursday and Friday, requested in his newest message for demonstrators to take to the streets Saturday and Sunday. He urged protesters to hold Iran’s outdated lion-and-sun flag and different nationwide symbols used through the time of the shah to “declare public areas as your personal.”
Pahlavi’s help of and from Israel has drawn criticism up to now — notably after the 12-day battle. Demonstrators have shouted in help of the shah in some protests, nevertheless it isn’t clear whether or not that’s help for Pahlavi himself or a need to return to a time earlier than the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Protesters take part in an indication in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 10, in help of the nationwide mass protests in Iran in opposition to the federal government. AP-Yonhap
On-line video purported to indicate protests ongoing Saturday evening as nicely.
The demonstrations started Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial foreign money, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, because the nation’s economic system is squeezed by worldwide sanctions partially levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls straight difficult Iran’s theocracy.
Airways have canceled some flights into Iran over the demonstrations. Austrian Airways mentioned Saturday it had determined to droop its flights to Iran “as a precautionary measure” by means of Monday. Turkish Airways earlier introduced the cancellation of 17 flights to a few cities in Iran.
In the meantime, concern is rising that the web shutdown will permit Iran’s safety forces to go on a bloody crackdown, as they’ve in different rounds of demonstrations. Ali Rahmani, the son of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi who’s imprisoned in Iran, famous that safety forces killed tons of in a 2019 protest “so we will solely concern the worst.”
“They’re combating, and shedding their lives, in opposition to a dictatorial regime,” Rahmani mentioned.
