Nationwide Protests in Iran Enter 14th Day; Death Toll Rises to 116 as Regime Signals Harsh Crackdown
Paris, Agency: Nationwide anti-government protests in Iran continued for the fourteenth consecutive day on Sunday, with violence during the two-week-long unrest pushing the death toll to at least 544, which includes eight children according to a US-based human rights organisation.
More than 10,681 individuals have also been transferred to prisons for arrest, the agency reported.
The demonstrations, which have spread across multiple cities, erupted amid mounting public anger over soaring inflation, a deteriorating economy, and the sharp fall in the value of Iran’s currency.
As frustration deepened, thousands of people took to the streets, demanding accountability and change.
In response to the unrest, Iranian authorities have imposed sweeping communication restrictions, cutting internet services and phone lines across large parts of the country.
These shutdowns have made it difficult to independently assess the full scale of the protests and the casualties.
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 116 people have been killed so far, while more than 2,600 protesters have been detained.
Iran’s state television has labelled the demonstrators as “terrorists” and has focused its coverage on casualties among security personnel.
Official broadcasts have acknowledged protests in the capital Tehran as well as in the north-eastern city of Mashhad, indicating the wide geographic spread of the unrest.
Threat of the Death Penalty for Protesters
Despite warnings from the United States and growing international concern, Iran’s supreme leadership has signalled a hardening stance.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has indicated that strict action will continue against those involved in the protests.
Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad issued a stark warning on Saturday, stating that anyone participating in the demonstrations would be considered an “enemy of God,” an offence that carries the possibility of the death penalty under Iran’s legal framework.
In a statement broadcast on state television, authorities further warned that anyone assisting or supporting what they described as riots would also face the same charge.
Exiled Crown Prince Urges Protesters to Hold Their Ground
Amid the ongoing unrest, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi released a fresh message addressing protesters inside Iran. He appealed to demonstrators to remain steadfast and continue their presence on the streets.
In his message, Reza Pahlavi said that former US President Donald Trump had closely observed the courage shown by the Iranian people and had expressed readiness to support them.
The statement added a new political dimension to the protests, which have increasingly drawn international attention.
As Iran grapples with deep economic distress and intensifying political pressure, the persistence of protests, rising casualties, and increasingly severe warnings from the authorities suggest that the confrontation between the state and its citizens is entering a critical and potentially more dangerous phase.
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