Iran has slipped into an uneasy calm after weeks of protests met with a severe crackdown that activists say has killed at least 3,090 people. Demonstrations that erupted on December 28 over economic hardship and later evolved into a direct challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership appear to have been suppressed, with no reported protests in Tehran or elsewhere for several days. Daily life in the capital has largely resumed, although a nationwide internet shutdown remains in place.
The pause in unrest has not softened rhetoric from hardliners. A senior conservative cleric urged capital punishment for detained protesters and issued veiled threats against US President Donald Trump, reflecting continued fury within the establishment. Trump, however, adopted a more conciliatory tone, publicly crediting Iran’s leaders for refraining from mass executions — one of his stated red lines, along with the killing of peaceful demonstrators.
While protests inside Iran have quieted, anger has spilled abroad, with large demonstrations by Iranian exiles across Europe. Some Iranians have reportedly crossed into neighboring countries, including Turkey, to bypass the communications blackout and contact the outside world.