The nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy appear increasingly smothered, a week after authorities shut the country off from the world and escalated a bloody crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy appeared increasingly smothered Thursday, a week after authorities shut the country off from the world and escalated a bloody crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people.

The prospect of U.S. retaliation for the protesters’ deaths still hung over the region, though President Donald Trump signaled a possible de-escalation, saying the killing appeared to be ending. The White House stressed that “all options remain on the table.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. announced new sanctions on Iranian officials accused of suppressing the protests, which began late last month over the country’s faltering economy and the collapse of its currency. The Group of Seven industrialized democracies and the European Union said they too were looking at new sanctions to ratchet up the pressure on Iran’s theocratic government.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Iran for Thursday afternoon at the request of the United States.

In Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses said recent mornings showed no new signs of bonfires lit the night before or debris in the streets. The sound of gunfire, which had been intense for several nights, has also faded.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
    74·
    6 hours ago

    The regime may stop it now, but as things have developed the past few years, the protests will start again later. And next time they will be worse. That’s how the development has been already.

    The regime failed to protect Iran against attack from USA and Israel, which was basically the only legitimacy the regime had left.
    And USA and Israel stopped attacking when they had hit the nuclear development facility, despite they had shown they could attack whatever and wherever they wanted. Sowing doubt about the Iranian propaganda that Israel and USA are out to kill Iranians.
    Now the economy is so bad that people struggle to survive, and the outlook is that it will more likely get worse than better, as the Iranian economy continues to struggle.

    Next time many people will know the stakes, and people will be better prepared for them. And more people will likely be ready to die revolting rather than die slowly in a daily struggle to survive.

    Best of luck to the Iranian people.