A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East on January 27, as tensions rise over a possible strike on Iran following a brutal crackdown on protests that, according to human rights groups, has left thousands dead.
Amid the unrest, Iran’s currency, the rial, fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1.5 million rials on January 27.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he “hopes” military action against Iran will not be necessary, but has nevertheless deployed a “fleet” to the region, refusing to rule out airstrikes in response to the crackdown on mostly peaceful protesters who took to the streets in recent weeks demanding action to curb inflation and currency devaluation.
The U.S.-based human rights organization HRANA, whose figures have been regularly cited by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty since the beginning of the violent crackdown, says the confirmed death toll—including members of the security forces—has now reached 6,126, while 17,091 additional cases are still under investigation.
Some unofficial estimates cited by various media outlets are several times higher.
In an interview with Axios on January 26, Trump said the situation with Iran “is changing” because he has sent a “large fleet” to the region, including a strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is now in Middle Eastern waters, according to U.S. Central Command.
However, Trump added that he believes Tehran genuinely wants to reach an agreement.
“They want to make a deal. They have called us several times. They want to talk,” Trump was quoted as saying.
The protests began on December 28 in Tehran’s marketplaces, sparked by traders’ anger over dire economic conditions. The demonstrations quickly spread nationwide and evolved into protests against the authorities over the declining standard of living and the suppression of freedoms.
The collapse of the rial comes as annual inflation has reached 44.6 percent, including a nearly 90 percent year-on-year increase in food prices. Iran’s economy has struggled for years due to international sanctions and the aftermath of the 12-day war with Israel in June last year.
Eyewitness accounts and verified reports from human rights organizations suggest the violent crackdown peaked on January 8 and 9, when security forces opened fire on protesters.
Amid a weeks-long internet shutdown, information about the true scale of the crackdown has continued to emerge gradually.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said in its daily report on January 26 that internet restrictions remain in place, despite reports of limited access.
An Iranian government spokesperson said on January 27 that internet access was cut to “protect people’s lives,” without explaining what was meant by that statement.
Nevertheless, new images of the crackdown continue to surface online, as Iranians attempt to show how severe the violent response was.
The Vahid Online channel published new footage showing government forces firing directly at protesters in the city of Amol on the evening of January 9, contradicting authorities’ claims that the killings were carried out by “terrorists” rather than state security agents.
The images show uniformed officers armed with Kalashnikov rifles aiming at streets and opening fire. /RFE/RL
