The wave of violent protests that had been ongoing in Iran for the past two weeks has come to an end.
According to reports, after the protests subsided, the situation in Iran has begun returning to normal. International phone calls have been restored; however, internet services remain suspended.
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has surpassed 2,500, activists said, as Iranians made phone calls abroad for the first time in days Tuesday after authorities severed communications during a crackdown on demonstrators.
The number of dead climbed to at least 2,571 early Wednesday, as reported by the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. That figure dwarfs the death toll from any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian state television offered the first official acknowledgment of the deaths, quoting an official saying the country had “a lot of martyrs.”
The demonstrations began in late December in anger over Iran’s ailing economy and soon targeted the theocracy, particularly 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Images obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press from demonstrations in Tehran showed graffiti and chants calling for Khamenei’s death something that could carry a death sentence.
As the reported toll grew Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!”
He added: “I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
However, hours later, Trump told reporters that his administration was awaiting an accurate report on the number of protesters that had been killed before acting “accordingly.”
Trump said about the Iranian security forces: “It would seem to me that they have been badly misbehaving, but that is not confirmed.”
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Iranian officials once again warned Trump against taking action, with Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, responding to U.S. posturing by writing: “We declare the names of the main killers of the people of Iran: 1- Trump 2-” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Iranian intelligence officials stated that they have recovered U.S.-made explosives and weapons from several houses.
Iran Accuses Trump of Inciting Unrest as Protests Turn Deadly
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has accused US President Donald Trump of encouraging political destabilisation and inciting violence in Iran, according to a letter sent to the UN Security Council.
The complaint followed remarks by Trump to US media in which he said “the endgame is to win” Iran. He had earlier urged Iranians to “keep protesting” and to “take over your institutions,” adding that “help is on its way.”
Iranian state television on Tuesday acknowledged reports of a high death toll resulting from nationwide protests. It quoted Ahmad Mousavi, head of the Martyrs Foundation, as blaming the violence on what he described as “armed and terrorist groups.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s internet blackout has entered its sixth day. US internet services company Cloudflare said access to the global internet from Iran remained severely restricted, limiting the flow of information from the country.
International pressure on Tehran has increased. Several European countries have summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest what they described as a deadly crackdown on demonstrators. Iran’s ally Russia, however, condemned what it called “subversive external interference” in Iran’s internal affairs.
The protests represent one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s leadership in recent years, drawing sharp reactions from both regional and global powers.
On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran is prepared if the United States attempts a military operation.
He said that Iran had officially acknowledged legitimate protests against inflation in the country, and talks were underway with protesters regarding relief. However, he alleged that the protests were deliberately turned violent under a conspiracy to provide President Trump an opportunity to intervene, in order to seek a possible justification for external military action against Iran.
The Iranian foreign minister further said that they possess evidence of instructions being given to terrorist agents from abroad, and that they do not believe the United States is prepared for fair negotiations.
In response to a statement by the German chancellor, Abbas Araghchi said that Berlin is the worst place to deliver lectures on human rights. He accused the German chancellor of remaining consistently silent over the abduction of Venezuela’s president, and said that Germany, which has remained silent over 70,000 deaths in Gaza, should be ashamed.
