Latest updates on Iran’s anti-government protests: As protests entered their second week, Iranian authorities on Saturday issued their strongest warnings yet, signaling an uncompromising and increasingly violent response. Despite severe restrictions on information flow, demonstrations have continued across several cities, exposing deep public anger and resistance to the Islamic Republic.
Below is a comprehensive breakdown of what is unfolding inside Iran.
The Attorney General Issues a Death Penalty Warning
Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad announced that individuals participating in the protests would be charged as “enemies of God”—a capital offense under Iranian law. State television broadcast his remarks nationwide, underscoring the seriousness of the warning.
According to Azad, not only demonstrators but also anyone accused of “aiding rioters” would face prosecution. “Prosecutors must carefully and swiftly issue indictments and prepare the ground for trials and decisive confrontation with those who, through betrayal and insecurity, seek to impose foreign domination on the country,” the statement said.
He added that judicial proceedings must be conducted “without indulgence, leniency, or compassion,” reinforcing fears of mass executions or expedited trials. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials have repeatedly hinted at a nationwide crackdown in recent days.
Death Toll Rises as Internet Blackout Deepens
Protests that began over two weeks ago have intensified, but assessing their true scale has become increasingly difficult. Iranian authorities have severely restricted communications by cutting international phone lines and imposing near-total internet shutdowns across the country.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 72 people have been killed and more than 2,300 arrested since the demonstrations began. Iranian state television, however, has largely avoided reporting civilian casualties, instead emphasizing injuries and deaths among security forces.
United States Voices Support and Issues Warning
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed strong support for Iranian protesters, posting on X: “The United States supports the brave people of Iran.”
In a separate statement, the US State Department warned Iranian authorities not to underestimate Washington’s resolve. “Do not play games with President Trump,” the statement said. “He is serious when he says he will act.”
Videos Contradict State TV Claims of Calm
Saturday marked the start of Iran’s workweek. State television claimed government offices and internal websites were functioning normally and that many universities had shifted to online classes.
Pro-government broadcasts frequently featured Majid Entezami’s “Epic of Khorramshahr,” a powerful orchestral piece associated with the Iran-Iraq war, playing over footage meant to project national unity and order.
A state TV anchor asserted there was “no news of any gatherings or chaos in Tehran and most provinces,” adding that “field reports indicate peace prevailed in most cities overnight.”
However, videos verified by the Associated Press showed a very different reality. Footage from Tehran’s Saadat Abad neighborhood captured thousands of protesters chanting slogans, including “Death to Khamenei!”—directly contradicting official narratives.
Security Force Casualties Also Reported
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency released what it described as surveillance footage from Isfahan, allegedly showing an armed protester firing a long gun while others threw gasoline bombs and set fires near what appeared to be a government facility.
State-linked Young Journalists’ Club reported that three members of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij volunteer force were killed by protesters in Gachsaran. Additional fatalities included a civilian in Mashhad, a police officer in Bandar Abbas, another officer in Gilan, and a security official fatally stabbed in Hamadan province.
State media also aired footage of a large funeral in Qom attended by hundreds, highlighting losses among regime supporters.
Fresh Protest Calls as Flights Are Cancelled
Despite the crackdown, calls for further demonstrations have continued. Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged citizens to protest again over the weekend, encouraging them to carry Iran’s historic lion-and-sun flag and reclaim public spaces as symbols of national identity.
The unrest began on December 28 amid the collapse of the Iranian rial, now trading at more than 1.4 million to the US dollar, as Sanctions-linked economic pressure intensified. What started as economic frustration has since evolved into a direct challenge to Iran’s theocratic system.
The crisis has also disrupted air travel. Austrian Airlines announced the suspension of flights to Iran through Monday as a precaution, while Turkish Airlines earlier cancelled 17 flights to three Iranian cities.
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