Iran's Supreme Leader Vows to 'Break the Back' of Protesters as Crackdown Continues
Iran has entered a period of uneasy calm following weeks of widespread protests that met with a severe government crackdown. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has now publicly vowed to "break the back" of seditionists, signaling no retreat from the hardline stance. The demonstrations, which erupted in late December over economic hardships, quickly evolved into a direct challenge against Iran's clerical leadership.
Death Toll Climbs as Activists Verify Casualties
A US-based activist agency has verified at least 3,766 deaths during the protest suppression, warning that the actual toll could be even higher. This revised figure represents the deadliest unrest Iran has witnessed in decades. Iranian authorities have not provided a clear official count, though Khamenei himself acknowledged "several thousand" fatalities while blaming the United States for instigating the turmoil.
Activists further report more than 24,000 arrests amid the escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. The heavy security presence and deadly crackdowns appear to have largely suppressed protests across many Iranian cities and towns, according to witnesses and human rights organizations monitoring the situation.
Normalcy Returns Amid Continued Internet Restrictions
Daily life in Tehran has largely resumed, with no reported protests in the capital or elsewhere for several consecutive days. However, a nationwide internet shutdown remains largely in place, making independent verification of events extremely difficult. Some Iranians have reportedly crossed into neighboring countries like Turkey to bypass the communications blackout and contact the outside world.
The pause in domestic unrest has not softened rhetoric from Iranian hardliners. A senior conservative cleric recently urged capital punishment for detained protesters and issued veiled threats against US President Donald Trump, reflecting continued fury within the establishment.
International Reactions and Diaspora Protests
While protests inside Iran have quieted, anger has spilled abroad with large demonstrations by Iranian exiles across Europe. Thousands gathered peacefully in Los Angeles to show support for protesters in Iran, illustrating the global dimension of this crisis.
President Trump has adopted a notably more conciliatory tone, publicly crediting Iran's leaders for refraining from mass executions of detained protesters. Trump had previously stated that executions or the killing of peaceful demonstrators would cross his red lines for potential US action, including military intervention.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has meanwhile declared that any attack on the supreme leader would be considered a declaration of war, further escalating the diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The unrest began weeks ago amid a deepening economic crisis and rapidly weakening currency before evolving into a wider antigovernment movement. As signs of normalcy return in parts of Iran, the human cost continues to mount with each new verification of casualties from the crackdown.
