Overview
- Rights groups estimate more than 500 people have been killed and roughly 10,000 detained during weeks of nationwide demonstrations, with verified footage showing security forces firing live rounds.
- Authorities have imposed sweeping internet shutdowns as protests spread across scores of cities, and some foreign airlines have canceled flights to Iran.
- The currency shock remains the catalyst, with the rial weakening to roughly 1.5 million per U.S. dollar and inflation above 40 percent, eroding household purchasing power.
- A White House official says military commanders briefed President Trump on possible courses of action while he voiced support for protesters, though no U.S. military move has been announced.
- Iranian officials have labeled demonstrators as terrorists and accused the U.S. and Israel of fomenting unrest, as the UN chief condemned reports of excessive force and oil prices ticked higher.