I saw it with my own eyes - they fired directly into lines of protesters, and people fell where they stood. Omid, who shared this chilling account, spoke of the unfolding horror as security forces across Iran engaged in a brutal crackdown on demonstrators protesting against worsening economic conditions.
Despite threatening repercussions from the authorities, Omid, whose identity has been anonymized for safety, echoed a sentiment of desperation and fear common among protesters: We are fighting a brutal regime with empty hands. Witnesses corroborate that security personnel have used heavy weaponry against unarmed civilians, intensifying fears amid an already volatile environment.
Many recount the shocking events of recent days, particularly a decisive day of violence when security forces were reportedly instructed to escalate their response. Eyewitnesses recounted how, after the Iranian leader Ali Khamenei asserted that the regime would not back down, the situation deteriorated significantly. Reports of extensive casualties emerged as security forces unleashed lethal fire on crowded streets and neighborhoods, leaving many wounded and dead.
A significant portion of information on casualties and violence is being relayed by Iranian human rights organizations, which claim a death toll of over 600, with children among the deceased. The lack of independent verification remains a concern, as international media struggles to operate freely in Iran's tightly controlled landscape.
Some individuals shared their reflections of a turned city, where fear now grips the population. In war, both sides have weapons. Here, people only chant and get killed. It is a one-sided war, lamented a young woman from Tehran, illustrating the stark reality of the ongoing protests.
As the Iranian state media attempts to shift blame onto external adversaries like the U.S. and Israel, many within the country continue to call for reform, risking their lives in the streets of increasingly volatile cities such as Tehran, Babol, and Rasht.
