It should be noted that the mass protests in Iran, which began in late December, were triggered by an economic crisis and the devaluation of the national currency.
U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that harsh measures against Iran are possible if the authorities begin to crack down on protesters.
Currently, the following facts are known:
- The protests have spread across all 31 provinces of Iran, and according to human rights defenders, the death toll has reached at least 45 people, including police officers. The number of arrests has exceeded 2,200;
- In central Tehran, protesters have blocked several streets. Gunfire can be heard in the city, and people are setting police vehicles on fire;
- In the outskirts of Tehran, in the city of Karaj, protesters have blocked one of the streets, leading to gunfire from security forces;
- The city of Abdanan in Ilam province, located near the border with Iraq, is fully controlled by protesters;
- In Lordegan in the southwest of the country, armed individuals killed two police officers;
- The head of Iran's Central Bank, Mohammad Farzin, has resigned amid a sharp decline in the currency's value;
- The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, noted that the country's economic problems are caused by pressure from Tehran's adversaries and called for intensified efforts against their agents within the country.
Global media report that some streets in Tehran are blocked, and protesters are setting vehicles on fire. They are chanting slogans: "Long live the Shah!", "Death to the dictator!" and "This is the last battle, Pahlavi will return!".
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran, overthrown during the Islamic Revolution of 1979, organized by Ayatollah Khomeini. After the monarchy was overthrown, Iran became an Islamic republic. Pahlavi left the country and died in exile in 1980 in Egypt.
