International condemnation is mounting amid shocking claims that more than 3,000 protesters have been killed during a brutal 16-day crackdown by Iranian authorities. The nation of 90 million people awoke to a near-total communications blackout on Monday, with internet access blocked and phone lines severed following a weekend of intense demonstrations.
A Nation Silenced, A Death Toll Disputed
Eyewitness accounts from inside Iran paint a harrowing picture of the state's response. Reports describe hospitals in the capital Tehran and the second city of Mashhad being "overwhelmed with bodies" after security forces moved to quell the widespread anti-government protests. While some estimates place the number of fatalities at around 600, the main exiled opposition group, the MEK (Mujahedin-e Khalq), has asserted the death toll has now "exceeded 3,000."
In a powerful statement, the MEK's exiled leader, Maryam Rajavi, labelled the government's actions a "major crime against humanity." The protests, which began over a specific grievance, have rapidly evolved into a broader challenge against the ruling theocracy, with videos emerging on Monday suggesting demonstrations were continuing despite the severe repression.
Global Rallies and UK Policy Caution
The unrest has sparked a wave of solidarity protests across the globe. In London, demonstrators gathered outside the Iranian embassy, where one protester set fire to an image of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Parallel rallies were seen in Berlin and Los Angeles, with some displays of support for Iran's deposed Pahlavi monarchy.
Meanwhile, in a significant development, Downing Street has played down the immediate prospect of proscribing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. When questioned on the move, Number 10 pointed to comments from the former head of MI6, Sir Richard Moore, who expressed caution on the BBC's Today programme.
Sir Richard warned that such a designation "won't have practical effect" and risked being more about "us feeling better about ourselves." This stance indicates a careful, if controversial, diplomatic calculation by the UK government amidst the crisis.
Regime's Show of Force and Public Warnings
Inside Iran, the regime staged large, state-organised counter-rallies in a clear show of force. Supporters congregated at Tehran's Enghelab Square, chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans and holding aloft pictures of Ayatollah Khamenei. In a stark parallel, official billboards in the capital displayed coffins draped with American and Israeli flags, signalling a warning to perceived foreign enemies.
The authorities also directly targeted the public with ominous text messages. One widely circulated warning advised: "families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers" – an implicit instruction to keep younger generations off the streets and away from the protest movement. The situation remains volatile, with the world watching as one of the most significant challenges to Iran's leadership in years continues to unfold.
