Washington: Violence linked to nationwide protests in Iran has killed at least 2000 people according to activist groups and international media reports as unrest continues to grip the country amid economic hardship and political anger.
The protests which began in late December over rising prices job losses and inflation have spread across major cities and towns. What started as economic demonstrations quickly turned into broader anti government protests challenging Iran’s leadership.
Human rights groups say security forces have used heavy force to suppress the unrest. Internet shutdowns and communication restrictions imposed by the authorities have made it difficult to independently verify the scale of casualties. Iranian officials have not released a full death toll but have acknowledged that both civilians and security personnel have been killed.
United States President Donald Trump has openly voiced support for the protesters. In public messages he urged Iranians to continue strikes and demonstrations and said help would come soon. Trump also encouraged protesters to take control of public institutions a statement that drew strong criticism from Tehran.
The Iranian government has accused foreign powers including the United States of interfering in its internal affairs. Officials say the violence is being driven by what they describe as terrorists and outside agitators rather than peaceful demonstrators.
International reaction has been swift. Several European countries have condemned the crackdown and announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials. Human rights organizations have called for an independent investigation into the deaths and urged Iran to allow free access to information.
Meanwhile the situation inside Iran remains tense. Protests continue in several regions despite arrests and security deployments. With limited information coming out of the country the true scale of the crisis may take time to fully emerge.