As Iranians bury their dead, many are waiting for Trump's next move
CBC
While airing video on Wednesday of large funeral processions for some of the people killed during the protests that have recently gripped the country, Iran's state broadcaster blamed the U.S. for whipping up and leading the “terrorist actions.”
That’s the clerical regime’s official narrative, which it has been amplifying while ruthlessly trying to silence all other accounts of what's happening.
This wave of demonstrations began on Dec. 28, when merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar protested the country’s deepening economic crisis and the further drop of the currency, the rial, to a record low.
The unrest quickly spread across the country, as people fed up with years of repression and restrictions took to the streets.
For nearly a week, most of Iran’s 90 million citizens have been cut off from the internet and prevented in many cases from connecting with family and friends both inside and outside Iran.
“The signals were cut as the protests began and citizens were suddenly paralyzed,” wrote a 22-year-old man in a message to CBC News. “Communication is still extremely difficult. SMS (messaging) is down.”
CBC is not identifying the man because, like others, he is concerned about potentially severe repercussions from the Iranian regime.
Over the past two days, with the help of an Iranian journalist living in Europe, CBC has been able to connect with three individuals in Iran on the social messaging platform Telegram.
All three answered questions about the protests and the level of violence, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to intervene because of the brutal crackdown on protesters.
The U.S.-based human rights group HRANA says it has verified more than 2,500 deaths.
“I personally witnessed gunfire and attacks … tear gas, sound bombs or flares, live ammunition and pellet guns,” said the 22-year-old, who is in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, which lies on the Strait of Hormuz.
“I witnessed the confirmed death of at least one person right next to me. The body was taken away by the repression forces.”
In addition to those who have been killed, human rights groups estimate that thousands have been arrested during the protests. Iran’s judicial chief has vowed swift justice.
The 22-year-old said that security forces used motorcycles, armoured vehicles and water cannons to try to push demonstrators back.
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