Frank Okon

Anti-government protests against economic hardship have spread uncontrollably across Iran, with at least 35 people, including children, reported dead, according to a U.S.-based human rights group. The situation has worsened as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei designates protesters as “rioters” and opens fire, increasing casualties, amid warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump that he is “ready to intervene if there is a harsh crackdown.”

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The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) announced on the 5th that the death toll from protests inside Iran has reached at least 35. The deceased include 29 protesters, four children, and two Iranian security forces members. Since the protests began on the 28th of last month, over 1,200 people have been arrested and detained by authorities. HRANA explained that the ongoing protests, which have continued for over a week, have spread to 27 out of Iran’s 31 provinces and over 250 regions.

The organization collects information through an Iranian internal activist network and has provided relatively accurate figures during past unrest, according to AP News. Iranian authorities are highlighting the protesters’ violence. The semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency reported that approximately 300 people, including around 250 police officers and 45 members of militia groups under the Revolutionary Guard, were injured during the protests.

Foreign media point out that these protests are far larger than the massive demonstrations triggered in 2022 by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22 years old at the time, who was arrested on charges of not wearing a hijab and later died under mysterious circumstances.

Following the “12-day war” with Israel in June of last year and direct U.S. strikes, Iran’s economy was hit hard as international sanctions intensified. This led to public outrage over chronic corruption and economic hardship.

As the situation worsens, the possibility of U.S. intervention is gaining attention. Earlier, President Trump mentioned the possibility of intervention regarding the Iranian protests and just one day later, on the 3rd, ousted the current president of Venezuela, an ally of Iran. Iranian authorities are reportedly anxious, asking, “Are we not next?”

The Iranian government announced plans to pay a monthly “living stipend” of approximately $7 (around 10,000 Korean won) to all 80 million citizens to appease public anger. However, some argue it is already too late to calm the nationwide public outrage. There are also reports that top officials, including Ali Khamenei, have prepared an “emergency plan” to seek asylum in Russia in case the military loses control of the current situation.