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Iran Tightens Crackdown as Protests Defy Nationwide Blackout

A sweeping communications blackout deepened, with activist groups reporting rising deaths and mass detentions.

Overview

  • Activist tallies put the death toll at least in the dozens, with 2,300-plus detained, though figures remain hard to verify under the shutdown.
  • The prosecutor general warned participants could be charged as “enemies of God,” a capital offense, as the judiciary chief vowed decisive, severe punishments.
  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused protesters of serving foreign powers and signaled harsher measures, while state outlets highlighted arson, clashes, and security-force fatalities.
  • Washington escalated warnings, with President Donald Trump threatening consequences for lethal repression and Secretary of State Marco Rubio declaring support for protesters; France, the UK, and Germany condemned the killings.
  • Reza Pahlavi urged continued mobilization and calls to occupy city centers, as demonstrations spread across Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Qom, and Zahedan, despite near-total cuts to internet and international phone service.