More than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran’s nationwide protests, according to rights activists, as monitors reported a slight return of internet connectivity following an eight-day shutdown.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said on Saturday it had verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters. Iranian authorities have not released an official death toll and have previously disputed figures provided by opposition and rights groups.
Residents said a sweeping security crackdown appeared to have largely quelled demonstrations, while state media reported further arrests.
Several residents in Tehran told Reuters the capital had been comparatively quiet for four days. Drones were seen flying overhead, but there were no signs of major protests on Thursday or Friday. Those contacted asked not to be identified for safety reasons.
A resident in a northern city on the Caspian Sea said the streets there also appeared calm.
The internet monitoring group NetBlocks said metrics showed a "very slight rise" in connectivity after around 200 hours of shutdown, although access remained at roughly 2% of normal levels.
Iran has repeatedly restricted internet access during periods of unrest, but analysts say the scale and duration of the latest blackout are among the most severe in recent years, limiting the flow of information and protesters’ ability to organise.
Some Iranians living overseas said on social media they had briefly been able to contact people inside the country early on Saturday.
The protests erupted on 28 December over economic hardship before spreading nationwide and evolving into calls for an end to clerical rule in the Islamic Republic. Demonstrations were reported in dozens of cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad and Tabriz, before the crackdown intensified.
Opposition groups and an Iranian official say more than 2,000 people were killed in the worst unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who had earlier warned of "very strong action" if Iran executed protesters, said Tehran’s leaders had halted planned mass executions.
"I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran," he wrote on social media on Saturday (17 January). Trump did not provide evidence for the claim, and Iranian authorities have not announced plans for such executions or confirmed that any had been cancelled.
The United Nations has previously urged Iran to respect the right to peaceful protest and to restore full internet access, amid international concern over the scale of the crackdown.
Indian students and pilgrims returning from Iran said they had largely been confined to their accommodation and were unable to communicate with their families.
"We only heard stories of violent protests, and one man jumped in front of our car holding a burning baton, shouting something in the local language, with anger visible in his eyes," said Z Syeda, a third-year medical student at a university in Tehran. Her account reflects the fear and uncertainty described by residents amid tightened security and restricted communications.
India’s External Affairs Ministry said commercial flights were operating and that New Delhi would take steps to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian nationals.
It remains unclear whether protests will resume if internet access is fully restored, with security forces maintaining a visible presence in major cities.
The White House has named senior U.S. and international figures to a so-called "Board of Peace" to oversee Gaza’s temporary governance under a plan ...
Ukraine is sending a senior delegation to the U.S. for talks on security guarantees and a post-war recovery package, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sai...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of January, covering the latest developments you need to ...
More than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran’s nationwide protests, according to rights activists, as monitors reported a slight return of intern...
Mongolia has introduced a new decree to strengthen traditional Mongolian medicine and expand its international profile....
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has called for support for protesters seeking to overthrow Iran’s government. Speaking at a press conference in Washington on 16 January, Pahlavi outlined plans to return to Iran and called for action against the country’s Revolutionary Guards.
Protests that erupted across Iran in recent weeks have largely subsided following a sweeping security crackdown that residents and human rights groups say killed thousands of people.
The United States stands by the “brave people of Iran,” and President Donald Trump "has made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.
At least four people were injured after a large fire and explosions hit a residential building in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities said.
A railway power outage in Tokyo disrupted the morning commute for roughly 673,000 passengers on Friday (16 January) as two main lines with some of the world's busiest stations were halted after reports of a fire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the international situation is worsening and that the world is becoming more dangerous, while avoiding public comment on events in Venezuela and Iran.
A SpaceX capsule carrying a four-member crew home from orbit in an emergency return to earth necessitated by an undisclosed serious medical condition afflicting one of the astronauts splashed down safely early on Thursday (15 January) in the Pacific Ocean off California.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that the long-awaited “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction has officially been formed.
The White House has named senior U.S. and international figures to a so-called "Board of Peace" to oversee Gaza’s temporary governance under a plan unveiled by President Donald Trump on Friday.
Ukraine is sending a senior delegation to the U.S. for talks on security guarantees and a post-war recovery package, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday, adding that agreements could be signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that allied supplies of air defence systems and missiles were insufficient as Russia prepares new large-scale attacks.
Poland plans to expand its armed forces to 500,000 by 2039, including 300,000 active-duty troops and 200,000 reservists, officials said Friday. The enlarged force would feature a new high-readiness reserve unit.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment