Protests in Iran have increased sharply as people continue to take to the streets on the largest scale in nearly 2 weeks, amid authorities cutting off the Internet nationwide and the death toll from crackdowns continuing to increase.
The protest movement began with the closure of the Tehran market after the rial fell to a record low, then quickly spread to many provinces and cities, including the capital.
According to monitoring organizations, protests took place in 348 locations in all 31 provinces of Iran. Mass gatherings were recorded on Ayatollah Kashani Avenue in northwestern Tehran and in the city of Abadan, despite strong security measures.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization based in Norway said that at least 45 protesters have been killed since the movement broke out, including 8 teenagers. The organization assessed that the level of crackdown is increasingly violent and widespread, with hundreds injured and more than 2,000 arrested. Meanwhile, state media and Iranian official statements said that at least 21 people, including security personnel, have been killed.
An Iranian policeman died while trying to "control instability" in western Tehran, according to Fars news agency. Despite the tense situation, protests continued at night in many cities.
Netblocks, an Internet monitoring organization, said that direct indicators show that Iran is in a state of Internet disconnection nationwide. Network cuts are taking place in parallel with increased security measures.
President Masoud Pezeshkian called for "maximum restraint" in handling protests and avoiding all acts of violence or coercion. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned the excessive use of force against protesters. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned that he would take strict action if the Iranian government continues to cause casualties to the people.
