Background on the Situation in Iran
Donald Trump stated on Sunday that Iranian authorities are interested in negotiations following his military threat in response to the deadly crackdown on protests in Iran. The protests, which began two weeks ago against rising living costs, have evolved into a movement against the theocratic regime that has governed Iran since the 1979 revolution.
According to Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based NGO, at least 192 protesters have died in the largest anti-government demonstrations in Iran over the past three years. The NGO suggests that the actual death toll could be higher due to internet restrictions, as the previous count was 51 fatalities.
Iran’s Response and Trump’s Military Considerations
In response to the crackdown, Trump mentioned that he is evaluating a possible military action: “We are considering very strong options,” he said. In case of a U.S. military attack, Trump warned that “both occupied territory as well as U.S. military and naval centers will be legitimate targets,” according to Mohamad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that “the Persian nation will soon be freed from the yoke of tyranny.” Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged citizens to join a “national resistance march” on Monday to denounce the violence allegedly perpetrated by “urban criminal terrorists.”
Protests and Internet Censorship
Despite the internet blackout, which has exceeded 60 hours, protests continue in cities like Tehran and Mashhad. Netblocks, which monitors cybersecurity and internet governance, stated that the censorship poses a direct threat to Iranians’ safety and well-being.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) reported receiving accounts from witnesses and credible sources indicating that hundreds of protesters have died during the internet outage. Hospitals are overwhelmed, blood reserves are depleting, and many protesters have sustained eye injuries from gunshots.
Arrests and Security Measures
National Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan announced “significant” arrests of prominent protest figures on Saturday night, without specifying numbers or identities. Ali Larijani, Iran’s security chief, differentiated between economic hardship protests and “disturbances,” which he likened to terrorist group methods, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Tehran is nearly paralyzed, with AFP reporter noting that meat prices have nearly doubled since the protests began. While some stores remain open, many have closed. Reza Pahlavi, the son of deposed Shah and a key figure in protest calls, urged the armed forces and public sector employees to join the demonstrations and support the people.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Donald Trump? Donald Trump is the President of the United States.
- What sparked the protests in Iran? The protests initially began as a response to rising living costs but evolved into broader discontent against Iran’s theocratic regime.
- What is the significance of the internet blackout? The internet blackout has hampered communication and reporting, making it difficult to verify the actual death toll and conditions faced by protesters.
- What are Trump’s considerations regarding military action in Iran? Trump is evaluating “very strong options,” including potential attacks on both occupied territory and U.S. military and naval centers.
- Who are the key figures involved in the protests and Iran’s response? Key figures include Donald Trump, Hassan Rouhani (President of Iran), and Reza Pahlavi (son of the deposed Shah). On the Iranian government side, Ali Larijani (security chief) and Ahmad Reza Radan (national police chief) have taken action against protesters.
