Iran returned to a fragile calm on Friday following weeks of anti-government protests that have triggered a massive state crackdown. In a move that signaled the regime's uncompromising stance, a senior hard-line cleric called for the execution of detained protesters while issuing direct threats to U.S. President Donald Trump.
The protests, which began on December 28, 2025, over a collapsing economy, quickly evolved into a direct challenge to Iran’s theocracy. While streets in Tehran have returned to outward normality, a nationwide internet blackout—now in its second week—continues to shield the full extent of the violence from the world.
Escalating Death Toll and Mass Arrests The human cost of the suppression is staggering. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) put the death toll at 2,797 as of Friday, though some activist groups suggest the figure could exceed 3,400. Estimates for those detained range from 16,000 to over 50,000. Eyewitnesses crossing the border into Turkey reported the use of machine guns and "final shots" fired at wounded protesters.
During Friday prayers, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami—a member of the Assembly of Experts—labeled demonstrators as "Trump's soldiers" and "butlers of Netanyahu." He demanded the death penalty for those captured, a move that directly challenges a "red line" established by President Trump.
Trump has warned of "very strong" military action if Iran proceeds with mass executions. However, by late Thursday, signs of de-escalation emerged as Trump claimed he had received assurances that planned hangings were being halted. Arab Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have reportedly been lobbying the White House to avoid a regional war.
Exiled Crown Prince: From Washington, Prince Reza Pahlavi urged Trump to follow through on his promises of help, calling him "a man of his word."
Russian Intervention: President Vladimir Putin spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, seeking to defuse the "tense situation."
Regional Fallout: A Kurdish separatist group in Iraq claimed to have launched retaliatory strikes on Iran's Revolutionary Guard, warning that the conflict is already spilling over borders.
Iranian authorities also provided the first statistics on infrastructure damage, claiming that 350 mosques and hundreds of medical and emergency vehicles were attacked during the unrest—a likely indicator of the protesters' anger toward symbols of state power.
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