The protests in Iran have not subsided since December 28, starting at the main city bazaar in Tehran, where shop owners closed their stores due to hyperinflation and sharp price fluctuations. On December 29, the exchange rate of the rial reached a record low of approximately 0.00002 euros. According to the World Bank, food inflation in the country was 64.2% in October, placing Iran second in the anti-rating after South Sudan.
According to the dpa agency, security forces are using tear gas against the protesters. Videos of burning police cars in Tehran are circulating on social media. Protests have also spread to major cities such as Mashhad and Kermanshah.
The British organization NetBlocks reports a complete internet shutdown for the population of Iran, leading to "almost a complete nationwide internet blackout." Data from the IT company Cloudflare shows that on January 8, internet traffic in the country decreased by 90%. It is believed that access to the internet is only maintained for representatives of the authorities and security forces, dpa reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in an interview with Salem News Channel, confirmed his previous stance towards the Iranian leadership, stating that they should expect tough actions if they continue the violence. "I made it clear to them that if they start killing people, we will respond," Trump noted, characterizing Iranians as "brave people." He added that his administration is closely monitoring the developments.
According to the Iran Human Rights organization, at least 45 people have died since the protests began, including eight minors. Iranian authorities had previously reported 21 fatalities, including security personnel.
