Iranian security forces have opened fire with live ammunition on unarmed protesters in the country's Kurdish regions, according to eyewitnesses and human rights groups, as nationwide demonstrations triggered by a severe economic crisis enter their eleventh day.
Violent Crackdown in Western Cities
Despite warnings from authorities, demonstrations broke out again on Wednesday across Kurdish cities in western Iran. Shopkeepers shuttered their stores and protesters chanted against government corruption. Witnesses state that security forces responded with tear gas, pellet guns, and, alarmingly, live bullets.
A 35-year-old female protester in Kermanshah described a brutal scene, her voice breaking as she spoke over the sound of gunfire. "They are killing us. They're showing no mercy," she said. "At noon in the square they beat a woman so badly she couldn't stand up. I'm begging all the people of Iran, let's all rise up together."
Footage from Malekshahi in western Iran is claimed to show the moment security forces used live rounds on Saturday. Separate testimony from Kermanshah was corroborated by the Norway-based Hengaw human rights organisation, which documented the use of Kalashnikov rifles against protesters.
Mounting Toll and Calls for a General Strike
The violence has resulted in significant casualties. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), at least 36 people have been killed, including four children and two security force members. More than 2,100 individuals have been arrested, with a wave of detentions targeting Kurdish protesters on Wednesday.
In response to the escalating crackdown, seven Iranian Kurdish opposition parties have called for a general strike on Thursday. Hiwa Bahrami, head of foreign relations for the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, stated the strike would signal that "the resistance in Kurdistan is standing strong." He emphasised the action was peaceful and expressed hope participants would not be attacked.
Their call was echoed by Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's former shah, who urged for unified nationwide protests on the same day. Videos have emerged showing students at Kermanshah University calling for his return.
Government's Dual Strategy and Deepening Economic Woes
The Iranian government has adopted a contradictory approach. President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered investigations into disturbing videos showing security forces in riot gear raiding a hospital in Ilam. His administration also announced it would double a state subsidy, though the new sum amounts to just £5.20 per month for breadwinners.
Concurrently, the head of Iran's army, Maj Gen Amir Hatami, issued a stark warning. He stated the military would not remain passive if international powers threatened to strike Iran in support of protesters, vowing pre-emptive action. This follows remarks from US President Donald Trump last week pledging to aid protesters if they were shot.
The protests were initially sparked by a sudden collapse in the value of the Iranian rial and have since broadened to encompass wider public grievances. The economic backdrop remains dire: the currency has lost two-thirds of its value in three years, and the average price of food has skyrocketed by 72% in the last year alone. The government's cancellation of a preferential exchange rate for importers is expected to cause prices of basic goods to soar further.
Despite the violence and threats, protesters vow to continue. "They are shooting at anyone and everyone," said Soran, a protester from Kermanshah using a pseudonym. "Tomorrow is the day all the Kurdish people will be on the streets."
