The Iran protest crackdown continues with ongoing arrests, according to reports from local media and rights monitors. Tehran faces growing international pressure over its response, which human rights organizations claim has resulted in thousands being killed amid severe internet restrictions.
Widespread Arrests
Iranian state media reported the arrest of 73 individuals in central Isfahan, accusing them of involvement in “American-Zionist sedition.” While official nationwide figures are not provided, Tasnim news agency recently reported 3,000 arrests. Rights groups, however, estimate the number has climbed to approximately 25,000.
In addition, the judiciary has filed lawsuits against 25 public figures, including athletes and actors. Sixty coffee shops have also been targeted for “directly or indirectly” supporting calls for protests, with some properties reportedly seized.
Growing International Isolation
The international response has further isolated Iran. The World Economic Forum cancelled an appearance by the Iranian Foreign Minister at its Davos summit. In the aviation sector, Germany’s Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian airlines have suspended flights to Tehran.
Diplomatic pressure is also increasing. The UN Human Rights Council will hold an urgent meeting on Friday to address “the deteriorating human rights situation” in the country, citing credible reports of extreme violence. In a related move, the European Commission has proposed banning the export of more drone and missile technology to Iran over the crackdown.
Conflicting Casualty Figures
Significant discrepancies exist in reports on the number of casualties. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) stated that the number of protesters killed may exceed even the highest media estimates of 20,000, though verification remains difficult. The Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported 4,029 confirmed deaths.
Iranian officials have dismissed these figures as “lies.” While not providing a death toll for protesters, the head of parliament’s national security commission stated that 3,709 security personnel had been wounded. An eyewitness from the city of Mashhad told IHR that “security forces opened fire on protesters with live ammunition.”
Continued Internet Blackout
Authorities continue to enforce a near-total internet blackout imposed 12 days ago. The monitor Netblocks reported that the strategy appears to involve “whitelisting,” where only selected users or services are allowed access, further controlling the flow of information.
