Iran was largely cut off from the outside world yesterday after authorities blacked out the Internet to curb growing unrest, and video showed buildings aflame in anti-government protests raging in cities across the country.
Rights groups have already documented dozens of deaths of protesters in nearly two weeks and, with Iranian state TV showing clashes and fires, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers had been killed overnight. In a televised address, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down, accusing demonstrators of acting on behalf of emigre opposition groups and the US, and a public prosecutor threatened death sentences.
Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology said the decision to shut down the Internet was made "by the competent security authorities under the prevailing circumstances of the country."
The protests pose the biggest internal challenge in at least three years to Iran's rulers amid a dire economic situation and after last year's war with Israel and the US.
While the initial protests focused on the economy, with the rial currency losing half its value against the dollar last year and inflation topping 40% in December, they have morphed to include slogans aimed directly at the authorities.
Iranian rights group HRANA said yesterday it had documented the deaths of at least 62 people, including 14 security personnel and 48 protesters, since demonstrations began on December 28. The Internet blackout has sharply reduced the amount of information flowing out of the country. Phone calls to Iran were not getting through. At least 17 flights between Dubai and Iran were cancelled, Dubai Airport's website showed.
Images published by state television overnight showed what it said were burning buses, cars and motorbikes as well as fires at underground railway stations and banks.
Videos verified by Reuters as having been taken in the capital Tehran showed hundreds of people marching.
Iranian rights group Hengaw reported that a protest march after prayers in Zahedan, where the Baluch minority predominates, was met with gunfire that wounded several people.
A video posted on social media purported to show demonstrators in the southern city of Shiraz as they chanted,
Authorities have tried a dual approach — describing protests over the economy as legitimate while condemning what they call violent rioters and cracking down with security forces.
Last week, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged authorities to take a "kind and responsible approach", and the government offered modest financial incentives to help counter worsening impoverishment as inflation has soared.
But with unrest spreading and clashes appearing more violent, the Supreme Leader, the ultimate authority in Iran, above the elected president and parliament, used much tougher language yesterday
"The nation came to power through the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people. It will not back down in the face of vandals," he said, accusing those involved in unrest of seeking to please US President Donald Trump.
Tehran's public prosecutor said those committing sabotage, burning public property or engaging in clashes with security forces would face the death penalty.