In Iran, the death toll from the government’s crackdown on protests has reached 3,090, even as parts of the country show signs of returning to normal. Streets in Tehran appear calm and shops have reopened, though the country experienced a week-long internet blackout.
Amid this uneasy calm, hard-line cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami called for the death penalty for detained protesters and issued a warning to U.S. President Donald Trump. In response, Trump expressed gratitude to Iranian authorities for cancelling hundreds of executions.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, meanwhile, urged Iranians to continue protesting and pledged to return to the country if the regime falls.
The protests, which began on December 28, were sparked by economic struggles, soaring inflation, and the collapse of Iran’s currency. Officials reported significant destruction, including damage to 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, 400 hospitals, 106 ambulances, and 71 fire vehicles.
