It has been two weeks since the protests started in Iran over the falling currency. In Iran, demonstrations started from the market in Tehran on 28 December. In these two weeks, many have died and thousands of protesters have been detained. Meanwhile, a war of words is also being seen between US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The protests in Iran have become even more difficult to predict due to internet shutdown and cut off phone lines. Although, America The death toll from two weeks of protests has reached at least 72 and more than 2,300 people have been detained, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency based in Washington. At the same time, Iran’s state TV is reporting about the casualties of the security forces and trying to tell that the situation is under control.
US President Donald Trump has threatened several times that if protesters are killed in Iran, America will come forward to save them. Despite these threats, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has indicated to take strict measures.
Meanwhile on Saturday iran Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that those taking part in the protests would be considered ‘enemies of Allah’, a charge punishable by death. Iranian state TV has said in a statement that those who help the rioters will also face the same charges.
At the same time, America has once again warned. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported the protesters and wrote on X, ‘America supports the brave people of Iran.’ The State Department issued a separate warning, saying, “Don’t play games with President Trump.” When he says he will do something, he means it.
What is Iran trying to show?
Large-scale protests are taking place in more than 50 cities in Iran. People are raising slogans against the government. Whereas, efforts are being made to show a different picture on Iran’s government TV.
Internet and telephone lines have been shut down in Iran due to the protests. Compared to other countries, the working week in Iran starts from Saturday. Due to the protests, schools and colleges are closed and online classes are going on.
Iranian musician Majid Entezami’s song ‘Epic of Khorramshahr’ is being played on state TV and pro-government demonstrations are being shown. The same song was being played even when there was a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June last year. It was also used in a video of women protesters cutting their hair in protest after the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
Videos of protesters firing at security forces are being shown repeatedly on TV. The protesters are being compared to ‘rioters’ and ‘terrorists’. State TV said in its report on Saturday, ‘Last night several armed terrorists attacked several places and set fire to people’s personal property. But after this there was no news of any kind of anarchy in Tehran and most of the provinces.
However, news agency AP has denied these things and showed several videos in which people are seen protesting in Saadat Abad area of northern Tehran. The protesters are raising slogans of ‘Khamenei murdabad’.
It is being shown on TV that the protesters are damaging properties and attacking security forces.
Large scale demonstrations still going on
Demonstrations started in Iran on 28 December. The demonstrations that started from Tehran gradually spread across the country. This week, an appeal was made by Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to come out of their homes to protest against the Islamic Republic on Thursday and Friday. After this, massive demonstrations took place and incidents of arson were also reported at many places.
Reza Pahlavi is still releasing his videos from America and asking people to take to the streets. He has appealed to the protesters to demonstrate against Iran’s old lion and sun flag and the national symbols used during the Shah’s time.
In some demonstrations, protesters have raised slogans in support of the Shah and supported the monarchy. In Iran, raising slogans in support of Shah is punishable by death, but in the latest demonstrations, it does not seem to have any effect on the protesters. It is being told that these protests are now taking place in more than 100 cities in all 31 provinces of Iran. The protesters have claimed that dead bodies are lying one on top of the other in hospitals.
Earlier, Trump had threatened that if the Iranian government kills the protesters then America will come to their help. At the same time, Khamenei had advised Trump to pay attention to his country.
Why are demonstrations taking place in Iran?
Iran’s currency has continuously weakened over the years. Shopkeepers claim that the price of one dollar has reached 14 lakh Iranian Rials. The shopkeepers of Tehran started protesting against this on 28 December. Protesters have blamed the Islamic Republic and Khamenei for the poor economy. During the demonstrations, protesters are raising slogans like ‘Down with Khamenei’, ‘Down with the Islamic Republic’ and ‘Mullahs must go’.
Meanwhile, concerns are also being raised that the internet shutdown will give Iran’s security forces an opportunity to take bloody action. Ali Rahmani, son of Nobel Peace Prize winner Nargis Mohammadi, said that since the 2019 protests had left hundreds of people dead, we can only anticipate the worst. “They are fighting against a dictatorial regime and losing their lives,” he said.
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