Iran is facing one of its most severe civil unrest episodes in recent history, with the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reporting approximately 1,850 protester fatalities during two weeks of sustained anti-government demonstrations. The death toll significantly surpasses previous estimates from the 2019 fuel price protests and the 2022 unrest following Mahsa Amini’s death.
Tehran authorities have intensified suppression tactics, maintaining a near-total internet blackout that entered its fifth consecutive day. While CNN reports indicate some landline and mobile users can place international calls, domestic internet access remains severely restricted. Cybersecurity expert Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks, characterized national blackouts as the regime’s preferred strategy when deploying lethal force against protesters, noting their dual purpose of containing information flow and limiting international oversight.
The international community has responded with mounting criticism. Germany’s foreign ministry condemned Tehran’s ‘brutal actions against its own people as shocking,’ joining France, Belgium, and Italy in summoning Iranian ambassadors in protest. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled scheduled meetings with Iranian officials, promising protesters that ‘help is on its way.’ Trump is convening with national security advisors to discuss potential measures, including previously announced 25% tariffs on nations conducting business with Iran.