Tehran's Grand Bazaar descended into chaos as security forces clashed with protesters in the 10th day of nationwide demonstrations, leaving at least 35 dead and over 1,200 arrested. The violence highlighted the government's crackdown on demonstrators, who took to the streets to protest economic woes and rising prices.
The epicenter of the protests is the grand bazaar, a symbol of historical significance as an activist hub during Iran's 1979 revolution. Tuesday's clashes were particularly severe, with security forces firing tear gas and expelling protesters from the area. Human Rights Activists news agency reported that over 257 demonstrations took place across 88 cities, fueling concerns about the government's response to dissent.
President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that much of Iran's economic woes were beyond his control. He warned that any attempts at intervention could exacerbate inflationary pressures and hurt the already struggling lower-income population. The Iranian rial has plummeted, losing two-thirds of its value in just three years.
Pezeshkian also announced plans to investigate allegations of security forces' violence against protesters, following footage emerged showing officers raiding a hospital in Illam province. The US state department described such actions as "a clear crime against humanity."
The president's comments came amidst escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, with Donald Trump vowing to intervene if Iranian authorities killed protesters. Top Iranian officials have criticized such remarks, drawing parallels with the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces earlier this week.
As protests continue, the government appears caught in a precarious balancing act between suppressing dissent and maintaining appearances of moderation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged that protesters' demands were legitimate but urged those who engaged in "riotous behavior" to be brought to justice.
The epicenter of the protests is the grand bazaar, a symbol of historical significance as an activist hub during Iran's 1979 revolution. Tuesday's clashes were particularly severe, with security forces firing tear gas and expelling protesters from the area. Human Rights Activists news agency reported that over 257 demonstrations took place across 88 cities, fueling concerns about the government's response to dissent.
President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that much of Iran's economic woes were beyond his control. He warned that any attempts at intervention could exacerbate inflationary pressures and hurt the already struggling lower-income population. The Iranian rial has plummeted, losing two-thirds of its value in just three years.
Pezeshkian also announced plans to investigate allegations of security forces' violence against protesters, following footage emerged showing officers raiding a hospital in Illam province. The US state department described such actions as "a clear crime against humanity."
The president's comments came amidst escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, with Donald Trump vowing to intervene if Iranian authorities killed protesters. Top Iranian officials have criticized such remarks, drawing parallels with the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces earlier this week.
As protests continue, the government appears caught in a precarious balancing act between suppressing dissent and maintaining appearances of moderation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged that protesters' demands were legitimate but urged those who engaged in "riotous behavior" to be brought to justice.
! 35 dead and over 1,200 arrested? It's like the government is more concerned with quashing dissent than finding solutions to their economic problems 
. And now they're announcing plans to investigate security forces' violence against protesters, but it feels like too little, too late 
. I mean, the US state department is calling out their actions as a clear crime against humanity... what's the point of even investigating if there's no intention of holding anyone accountable? 
The real question is, how much longer can this government keep up the charade before they're forced to make some real changes? 
this whole thing with Iran is just so convoluted... like, on one hand, you've got the protests about economic woes and rising prices, which I can kinda get - anyone would be mad about that, right? 
But then there's the government's response, which seems super heavy-handed. I mean, 35 dead and over a thousand arrested? 
This is getting really scary... 35 dead and over 1,200 arrested? The grand bazaar, a place where history was made during the Iranian revolution, has become a battleground 
. I feel so bad for the people protesting about their economic struggles, it's just that the government is making things worse with this crackdown 
. President Pezeshkian trying to spin it by saying he can't control the economy but still, someone gotta take responsibility 
. The fact that US diplomats are calling out Iran's actions as a "crime against humanity" is crazy... hope the situation doesn't escalate into something even more disastrous 
.
and it seems like the violence is getting out of hand 
i dont know if there's a solution but something needs to change ASAP 
and i dont get why the government wont talk about what's really going on with the economy 
, everyone knows prices are killing people's lives 
. meanwhile, trump's comments about intervening is like, hello, isn't that a bit dramatic? 
. The way Iran's government is handling these protests is straight outta a dystopian movie 
. I mean, 35 dead and over 1,200 arrested? That's some real-life Game of Thrones stuff 
. The fact that President Pezeshkian is trying to spin it as the protesters' fault just shows how desperate he is to silence them 
.
. The rial has plummeted, and people are struggling... but the government is more worried about looking good on the world stage than actually addressing their problems 
.
. Donald Trump's threats to intervene if Iranian authorities kill protesters? That's just a recipe for disaster 
. We need some actual diplomacy here, not all these grandstanding statements 
.
. At the same time, you've got the Iranian government saying they're doing everything they can to control inflation and keep things stable... but isn't cracking down on dissent kinda gonna make things worse? 
. I can imagine how scary it must be for those protesters who are fighting for a better life. I'm also feeling really frustrated that the situation is getting worse instead of better 
. Can't they find a way to address the economic woes that are driving people to protest without resorting to force? It's like they're more concerned with maintaining appearances than actually listening to their citizens 
its all so complex tho with inflation, economic woes, protests and tensions with the US its like a big ol mess 
but what really gets me is that President Pezeshkian says most of Iran's economic woes are beyond his control... how can you just sit there when your people are suffering?! 
the thing is, when you're feeling helpless & wanna take down someone or something, just remember: a single stone can start a fire that consumes everything 
seriously though, 35 dead and over 1k arrested? that's just... wow. i'm not surprised the government is cracking down, but come on, can't they see how their actions are just fueling more unrest? 
.
