Iran's popular uprising takes a severe turn - deaths exceed 217

The intense anti-government protests in Iran have become increasingly violent, with at least 217 people reported dead so far. Citing hospital sources in Tehran, international media indicates that this death toll has been recorded in only six hospitals in the capital, and the majority of the deceased were shot by security forces.

Amidst these protests, an official from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a strong warning on state television, stating that parents should keep their children away from the demonstrations. He strongly emphasized that if children are shot, parents should not come forward to complain about it.

Protesters have set fire to the Al-Rasool Mosque in Tehran, and the government has taken steps to suspend internet and phone services nationwide to control the situation. Although security forces were initially in a state of confusion, it is now reported that they are using maximum force to suppress the protests. Considering this situation, US President Donald Trump has warned that if Iranian security forces kill protesters, the Iranian government will have to pay a heavy price for it.

The primary cause of this wave of protests is the severe economic crisis and the rising cost of living in the country. The value of the Iranian currency, the Rial, has plummeted to a record 1.45 million against the US dollar, while food prices have increased by 72% and medicine prices by approximately 50%. Furthermore, the government's proposal in the 2026 budget to increase taxes by 62% has further exacerbated public anger. Due to this economic pressure, particularly the younger generation and the middle class have taken to the streets.

Addressing the nation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that foreign agents are behind these protests and are instigating violence in the country. He accused certain groups of damaging public property to please the American president, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic will not back down in the face of foreign conspiracies. However, although the current president Masoud Pezeshkian has shown a softer stance, many ministers in his cabinet are pressuring the government to take strong action.

Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who has been in exile in America for nearly 50 years, has announced on social media that he is ready to return to the country and join the people in protests. Many protesters anticipate Pahlavi's return as a secular and democratic alternative to the current religious rule, believing that his arrival will bring economic stability and international recognition. Meanwhile, US President Trump has stated that Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city and a major religious center, has been abandoned by security forces and is now completely under the control of protesters.