Why are there protests in Iran and what has Trump said about US action?

Hundreds of people are believed to have been killed in Iran as days of massive protests threaten the future of the ruling regime. Thousands more people are reportedly arrested.

Donald Trump also threatened military intervention if security forces killed protesters.

On December 28, shopkeepers took to the streets of Tehran to express their anger at the sharp decline in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial, against the US dollar on the open market.

The rial fell to a record low last year and inflation soared to 40%, leading to significant price increases for everyday products such as cooking oil and meat. Sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program have also weighed on an economy weakened by government mismanagement and corruption.

In a short time, the demonstrations began to spread to other cities as university students also joined the protests. Crowds were often heard chanting slogans against the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Expressions of support for Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the late former shah of IranIt became more widespread towards the end of last week, with thousands of people taking to the streets in Tehran and other major cities.

According to the US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency, protests have been confirmed in 186 cities and towns in all 31 provinces of Iran since the beginning of the unrest. Although it stated that more than 10,000 protesters were arrested, there was no estimate of the number of people believed to have participated in the protests.

Authorities intervened harshly. Various weapons, from water cannons to live ammunition, were reportedly used against protesters, with lethal effect. Many people who spoke to the BBC in the capital Tehran said that the reaction to the protests last week was intense. paramedics They stated that hospitals were full of dead and injured people..

Iran’s judiciary chief has warned courts not to tolerate “rebels”, vowing “swift and harsh” punishment.

US-based human rights group Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) reported that nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel have been killed since the protests began. Among those killed football coach Amir Mohammad Koohkan (26) and Kurdish fashion student Aminian (23)..

BBC Verify reviewed a clip from a funeral in Tehran Mourners are seen chanting “Death to Khamenei” – Supreme Leader of Iran.

The country is facing an internet blackout that experts say started on Thursday. Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network is being touted as a way to connect to the world, but users have been warned that such connections could be tracked by authorities.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi claimed that security forces had completely brought anti-government protests under control. Supporters of the authorities took to the streets in solidarity against recent “terrorist actions”, state television reported.

The government also declared three days of mourning for the “martyrs” killed in the “national war against the US and Israel”, which Tehran says has fueled unrest.

The great power of the Middle East rules Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiWith a population of approximately 90 million.

It has a parliament, but it is heavily influenced by lawmakers loyal to Khamenei, who have the final say on the most important issues, including how to deal with protests.

Iran was an important ally of the West until 1979, when the Shah (king) was overthrown by the Islamic revolution and replaced by a devout Shiite Muslim regime. Since then, the country has been governed along strict religious lines. Criticism of the regime is not tolerated and personal freedoms are greatly restricted.

The law requiring women to wear headscarves has been a source of deep resentment and has further fueled it Mass protests in 2022. Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world and is consistently among the worst human rights abusers.

Western countries’ relations with Iran have become tense since the revolution; The USA and Iran have become major rivals.

Washington accuses Iran of destabilizing the Middle East, particularly through its support for armed groups including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

Iran, on the other hand, accuses the USA of intervening in the region.

The United States has been a leading opponent of Iran’s nuclear program, arguing that Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at making bombs; but Iran denies this. IT Bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities last yearInternational sanctions imposed on Iran due to its nuclear activities have had a serious impact on the Iranian economy.

Donald Trump and his administration have threatened “very strong options” for intervening in Iran, which could include armed action.

Speaking to journalists sunday nightThe US president said Tehran had urged him to “negotiate” but warned he might have to act before a meeting could be arranged.

A US official told BBC’s US news partner CBS that Trump Information was given about military attack options against Iran.

Trump has not yet announced what the US plans are, but said on Sunday that Iranian leaders “want to negotiate” because they are “tired of being beaten by the US.”

Wall StreetJournal reported that other options were available Sanctions against Trump could include amplifying anti-government voices online, imposing more sanctions, or using cyberweapons against the Iranian military.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the country is fully prepared for war if attacked.

Iran restricts international news organizations such as the BBC from operating within the country. The state broadcaster and official institutions follow strict rules set by the government. Independent Iranian journalists routinely face persecution and harassment for any reporting critical of the authorities.

Internet access is also heavily restricted; Most major social media platforms and Western news agencies are banned. However, Iranians have become adept at using various methods such as VPN to bypass these restrictions.

However, the ongoing power outage has almost completely cut off Iranians’ connection to the outside world. Phone connections no longer work.

Hundreds of videos of the protests were posted on social media before the blackout went into effect Thursday evening. Iranians regularly met with foreign journalists and relayed eyewitness accounts of the protests.

Since then, video streaming has decreased significantly and it has become extremely difficult to talk to people inside.

A minority of Iranians have access to SpaceX’s Starlink, and they have been posting several videos on the latest developments.

Some of them were able to instantly connect to the internet and share their observations with journalists, friends and family members living abroad.