More than 3,000 people have been killed during over two weeks of nationwide protests in Iran, according to human rights activists, as signs emerge that the unrest may be subsiding amid a heavy security clampdown.
British news agency Reuters reported that the United States–based human rights group HRANA confirmed on Saturday the deaths of 3,090 individuals, including 2,885 protesters, following a verification process.
The agency also reported that limited internet access has begun to return to Iran after an eight-day near-total shutdown. According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, connectivity has resumed at only about 2 percent of normal levels after approximately 200 hours of blackout.
“Data from Iran this morning shows a small increase in internet connectivity,” NetBlocks said in a post on X, noting that access remains severely restricted.
Residents inside Iran say the protests appear to have largely died down for now, even as state media continue to report new arrests. Several Tehran residents told Reuters that the capital has been relatively calm for the past four days. Although drones continue to patrol the skies, there have been no major demonstrations observed on Thursday or Friday, said the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.
A resident of a northern city near the Caspian Sea also said streets there are currently quiet.
The protests erupted on December 28, initially driven by public anger over economic hardship, but rapidly evolved into a broader movement opposing Iran’s clerical leadership. Demonstrators attacked government buildings, police stations, and members of security forces. In response, authorities launched an increasingly forceful crackdown to suppress the unrest.
Opposition groups and an Iranian official have previously estimated that more than 2,000 people were killed during the demonstrations. The upheaval is widely regarded as the most significant unrest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Meanwhile, some members of the Iranian diaspora reported on social media that they have been able to send messages to friends and relatives inside Iran since Saturday morning, suggesting limited restoration of communications.
Source: Reuters