Iranian authorities have arrested key figures in the protest movement that has shaken the country over the past two weeks, the national police chief announced. This comes as Washington and Tehran exchange threats over the possibility of U.S. intervention.
Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan told state TV on Sunday, “Last night, significant arrests were made of the main elements in the riots, who, God willing, will be punished after going through legal procedures.” He did not specify how many were arrested.
Earlier, Iran’s attorney general stated that those caught protesting, or even assisting protesters, could face charges of being “an enemy of God”—a crime punishable by death.
Now in its second week, the protest movement marks the most significant unrest Iran has seen in years. Initially sparked by a sudden currency crash, protesters have since broadened their demands to include political reform and calls for the government’s downfall.
While Iran’s regime has survived mass protests before, analysts note the current unrest is unfolding as the government is weakened by an economic crisis and in the wake of its summer conflict with Israel.
Authorities cut off internet access across the country on Thursday, imposing a near-total nationwide blackout. Human rights groups report that Iranian authorities have used the internet shutdown to intensify their crackdown, using deadly force and live ammunition to disperse demonstrations.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 116 people have been killed in the violence surrounding the protests, with 2,600 arrested. The group stated, “Examination of the causes of death shows that most victims were killed by live ammunition or pellet gunfire, predominantly from close range.”
Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran if authorities kill protesters, a warning he appeared to renew on Saturday night. On his Truth Social platform, the U.S. president wrote, “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials presented Trump with military options for a strike on Iran, though he has not yet decided on a course of action.
U.S. senators echoed Trump’s remarks, with Sen. Lindsey Graham posting on social media that Iranians’ “long nightmare is soon coming to a close.”
Israeli officials said they are on high alert for any U.S. intervention in Iran. Israeli media reported that they are staying silent on the issue to avoid giving Iranian authorities a pretext to label the protests as foreign-backed.
The U.S. threats quickly drew a backlash from Iranian officials. Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf warned that the U.S. and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if the U.S. strikes Iran. “In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets,” he said.
Previously, after the U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites in June, Iran retaliated with a strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar. That strike was seen as largely symbolic, as it was telegraphed in advance and caused no U.S. military casualties.
Despite the crackdown, protests continued overnight on Saturday, with more expected on Sunday. Videos showed what appeared to be thousands of protesters in northern Tehran, banging pots and chanting slogans. In Mashhad, the birthplace of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, protesters were seen facing off with police, setting up roadblocks, and lighting fires.In this social media screengrab, a province in Iran is shown. Rights groups report that while thorough documentation is difficult due to a communications blackout, there are growing accounts of rising protester deaths. The Center for Human Rights in Iran stated on Sunday that it had received credible witness reports of hundreds of protesters killed in recent days.
Information and videos continue to emerge sporadically from Iran, often shared by activists using Starlink satellite internet. According to messages relayed through the U.S.-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation, a protester in the central city of Sari described the city being under complete martial law by security forces. The protester said, “A large number of security forces armed with military weapons have set up checkpoints. Every car is being stopped, even if there are just two people inside. They are telling everyone that anyone who is outside will be shot.”
An Iranian activist abroad told the Guardian that their cousin managed to make a panicked call via Starlink on Saturday night while fleeing a protest in Tehran’s Andarzgoo neighborhood. The cousin reported that authorities had begun using “military weapons” on unarmed protesters, with security forces firing at men, women, and children at close range.
In videos shared with the Guardian, large crowds are seen moving through streets amid what appears to be tear gas. Another video shows a protester fleeing as gunshots are heard in the background, with her repeating the word “shameless.”
A video verified by the Hengaw human rights group shows several bodies in a warehouse in Tehran’s Kahrizak area, which the group says were protesters killed by authorities. Hengaw stated that the warehouse, located next to a morgue, was being used as an overflow facility due to overcrowding. Iranian state media has blamed protester deaths on the protesters themselves.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, who previously offered dialogue with protesters, took a firmer stance on Sunday. He said, “People have concerns, we should sit with them and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns. But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society.”
While dealing with domestic protests, Iran’s government is also growing increasingly concerned about a potential strike from the U.S. or Israel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Irans Detention of Protest Organizers Escalating Crackdown
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Whats happening in Iran right now
Iranian authorities are arresting people identified as organizers of recent public protests This is part of a broader government crackdown which includes increased surveillance internet restrictions and harsher sentences to discourage dissent
2 Why is the government cracking down on protests
The government views organized protests as a threat to national security and stability It aims to suppress movements it considers to be fueled by foreign adversaries or that challenge the ruling system
3 Who are protest organizers
They can be activists community leaders social media influencers or ordinary citizens who help coordinate demonstration logistics spread information or mobilize people around specific grievances
4 What does potential US involvement mean here
It refers to concernsoften voiced by Iranian officialsthat the United States or other Western countries are encouraging or supporting the protests to destabilize Irans government The US government typically condemns the crackdown and supports human rights but denies directing the protests
5 What are the protestors generally demanding
Demands vary but have historically included calls for greater political and social freedoms womens rights economic justice and government accountability
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 How is this crackdown different from previous ones
Reports suggest it is more systematic targeting the backbone of protest movements preemptively with advanced digital surveillance and longer prison sentences The legal charges are often more severe such as enmity against God which can carry the death penalty
7 What legal justifications does the Iranian government use for these detentions
Authorities cite national security laws accusations of propaganda against the state assembly and collusion against national security and allegations of ties to foreign intelligence services or terrorist groups
8 What is the international response
Human rights organizations and many Western governments have condemned the detentions and crackdown calling for the release of detainees and independent investigations The UN has expressed concern Sanctions related to human rights abuses have been imposed by some
