A digital iron curtain has fallen over Iran, with phone and internet services down for over 84 hours amid ferocious protests against the Khamenei regime. Now in day 15, the unrest has claimed 544 lives—including children—and led to more than 10,000 arrests.
U.S. media outlets cite rights groups like HRANA, which tallied 544 deaths and 10,681 imprisonments since demonstrations erupted. Initial reports underestimated the carnage at 115 killed and 2,000 detained.
Protesters brave bullets and batons, fueled by economic despair and authoritarian grip. A viral video showed security personnel lobbing explosives at fleeing children, who miraculously survived.
The blackout aims to stifle organization, but outrage spreads. Trump stated Iran agreed to talks, prompted by U.S. briefings on potential strikes. Iran’s speaker retaliated with threats to target American assets.
Khamenei proclaimed Iran’s triumph over enemies’ multifaceted attacks—military, economic, cultural—over four decades. ‘The Islamic Republic stands strong,’ he declared. Yet, streets tell of fragility, with bloodied pavements and silenced voices demanding freedom.