Iran unrest leaves hundreds dead; US debates potential military action
What began on 28 December as local protests by shopkeepers in Tehran over the collapse of Iran’s currency has expanded into a nationwide movement calling for regime change
Unrest in Iran has intensified, with demonstrations spreading across the country in some of the largest protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
What began on 28 December as local protests by shopkeepers in Tehran over the collapse of Iran's currency has expanded into a nationwide movement calling for regime change, says the Washington Post.
Scale of the crackdown
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Iranian authorities have responded to the unrest with increased use of force. Rights groups report between 110 and 490 deaths, although a total internet blackout has made independent verification difficult. A senior Western official confirmed that hundreds of people died within a single 48-hour period of the protests.
Eyewitnesses described a "massacre" in which security forces used snipers, military rifles, and surveillance drones. Hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed, with shortages of blood supplies, and medical staff have noted a high number of protesters arriving with bullet wounds to the head, neck, and eyes.
Information control and official narrative
The government imposed a nationwide internet blackout on Thursday night, restricting communication and impacting economic activity. Despite the blackout, some Iranians have reportedly used smuggled Starlink devices to share footage of the crackdown internationally.
Iranian officials, including the police chief and President Masoud Pezeshkian, have stated that the deaths were caused by foreign-trained "terrorists" and "agitators," rather than security forces. One diplomat claimed that the unrest involved an Israeli-led infiltration linked to previous military exchanges between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
US response
The Trump administration is considering several responses to the crackdown, including military strikes, cyberattacks on civilian and military infrastructure, and economic sanctions. Military experts have noted a strategic challenge: the absence of a US carrier strike group in the region complicates the ability to conduct strikes while protecting American troops and Israeli interests. Experts also noted that removing top leadership may not destabilize the regime if another figure assumes control.
Regional tensions
In response to potential US action, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran is prepared to retaliate against international shipping lanes, Israel, and US assets.
