Dissatisfied with the soaring cost of living, protests in Iran have spread nationwide. Human rights organizations report at least 45 people have died, hundreds have been injured, and more than 2,000 have been arrested. Monitoring groups also note internet disruptions across Iran.
According to video verified by AFP, parts of Ayatollah Kashani Avenue in northwestern Tehran were packed with crowds and cars honking in support.
Persian-language TV channels based outside Iran and other social media platforms have also broadcast footage of protests in other cities, including Tabriz in northern Iran and Mashhad in the east, the holy city.
The Iranian currency, the rial, has plunged to a historic low, sparking a merchants’ strike in Tehran on December 28 last year. A wave of protests quickly spread nationwide, with the scale of demonstrations clearly expanding.
Other video footage shows protesters on Ayatollah Kashani Avenue chanting anti-government slogans repeatedly, including "Death to the dictator."
Human rights groups point out that despite deadly government crackdowns, which have already claimed dozens of lives, there is no sign the protest wave is subsiding, with participation continuing to grow.
Human rights groups accuse Iranian security forces of opening fire on protesters, with the death toll continuing to rise.
Local media and official statements indicate that at least 21 people, including security personnel, have died since the unrest began.
However, Norway-based NGO "Iran Human Rights" estimates, based on confirmed deaths, that security forces have shot and killed at least 45 protesters, including 8 minors. The organization stated that the 7th was the bloodiest day since the protests began, with at least 13 protesters killed.
Iran Human Rights Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: "Evidence shows that the scale and violence of the crackdown increase every day." He added that hundreds had been wounded and more than 2,000 arrested.
Nationwide Internet Controls
Additionally, at around 8 p.m. local time on the 8th, Xinhua News Agency reporters in the Iranian capital Tehran experienced internet service disruptions.
The international NGO “NetBlocks,” which monitors global internet access, stated that Iran is enforcing nationwide internet controls, which are linked to continued protests in multiple locations.