> At a Glance
> – Demonstrators defy death-penalty threats as rallies spread nationwide
> – At least 51 deaths, including 8 children, reported in 11 provinces
> – President Trump warns Tehran: “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting, too”
> – Why it matters: Iran’s biggest unrest in 47 years signals deepening crisis as economic woes ignite calls for clerical rule to end
Iranians returned to the streets late Friday, undeterred by warnings of execution and a rising death toll, as protests sparked by a currency crash evolved into a nationwide challenge to the Islamic Republic’s 47-year rule.
Crackdown Intensifies
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed no retreat in a fiery speech, prompting security forces to launch what rights groups call a brutal sweep. Iran Human Rights director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam told News Of Los Angeles:
> “Right now, we are very concerned that after the internet shutdown the brutality will increase.”
Amnesty International accused authorities of deliberately blocking the web to hide “grave human rights violations.” Despite the blackout, videos geolocated by News Of Los Angeles showed:
- Massive crowds in Mashhad and Tehran chanting against Khamenei
- The Karaj municipality building ablaze
- Several bodies on a blood-streaked floor in Fardis, west of Tehran
Legal Threats and Arrests
Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi Azad told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that protesters would be deemed “enemies of God,” a capital offense. The agency also reported 100 arrests in Tehran province for “disrupting public order.”
Global Pressure Mounts
President Donald Trump, addressing oil executives, issued a stark warning:
> “I tell the Iranian leaders – you better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting, too.”
He later added the U.S. would hit Iran “very hard where it hurts” without putting boots on the ground. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced support for “the brave people of Iran.”
A joint statement from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Tehran to “exercise restraint” and condemned the killing of protesters.
Protest Tactics Evolve
Exiled royal Reza Pahlavi used social media to urge demonstrators to prepare to seize city centers and launch strikes targeting transportation, oil, gas, and energy sectors.
Some Iranians appear to be bypassing the blackout via Starlink satellite internet, with one video from Tehran’s Saadat Abad neighborhood tagged as sent through Elon Musk’s service.
| Flashpoint City | Reported Incident |
|---|---|
| Karaj | Municipality building torched |
| Zahedan | Security forces fired on crowds after Friday prayers, says Hengaw Organization for Human Rights |
| Fardis | Video shows bodies after alleged use of “war bullets” |
Key Takeaways
- Protests that began over economic collapse have become a nationwide anti-regime movement
- Authorities respond with internet shutdowns, live fire, and death-penalty charges
- At least 51 deaths confirmed, actual toll feared higher
- Western leaders demand restraint while Trump threatens retaliation
With the internet dark and security forces ordered to show no leniency, Iran’s turmoil shows no sign of easing.
