Iran protest crackdown escalated on Monday as Iranian authorities organised a massive pro-government rally in Tehran while insisting nationwide unrest had been brought under control.
Tens of thousands of regime supporters filled central Tehran streets, waving Iranian flags and chanting slogans as state television broadcast images of unity and defiance.
The rally culminated at Enqelab Square, where speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf delivered a speech condemning Western influence and foreign interference.
Ghalibaf claimed Iran was fighting a “four-front war,” describing economic pressure, psychological warfare, military threats, and alleged terrorism as coordinated attacks on sovereignty.
Officials framed the demonstrations as proof of public loyalty, even as the country faces its most sustained protest movement since the disputed 2009 elections.
Despite the show of strength, evidence suggested demonstrations continued across multiple cities, particularly during nighttime hours when security visibility decreases.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, reinforced official messaging by asserting that unrest across the country had “come under total control.”
Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, Araghchi urged European governments to withdraw what he described as political support for protests inside Iran.
Ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy were summoned to the foreign ministry, according to Iranian state media reports.
Authorities accused Western governments of inflaming unrest and turning peaceful demonstrations into violent confrontations to justify outside intervention.
Iranian officials again blamed the United States and Israel, claiming both countries were coordinating efforts to destabilise the Islamic Republic.
These accusations came despite widespread participation by ordinary citizens, including traders, students, workers, and families from across social classes.
The protests began sixteen days ago after a sudden depreciation of the national currency triggered anger among Tehran’s business community.
What started as economic frustration rapidly evolved into nationwide demonstrations calling for sweeping political change and regime accountability.
Security forces responded with force, deploying riot police, mass arrests, and live ammunition, according to rights groups and witness testimonies.
Iran has previously suppressed major protest movements, notably in 2009 and 2019, using overwhelming security measures and strict information controls.
The current Iran protest crackdown has been marked by a near-total internet shutdown, limiting communication and verification of events on the ground.
Videos that did emerge online showed fires, blocked streets, and crowds chanting anti-government slogans under cover of darkness.
Human rights organisations reported that demonstrations have largely shifted to nighttime as protesters attempt to evade detection and arrest.
The international community responded with growing alarm as reports of rising casualties and detentions circulated despite the blackout.
Germany and Canada publicly urged Iranian authorities to halt repression and respect the rights of peaceful demonstrators.
Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump claimed Iran had privately reached out to propose negotiations amid the intensifying crackdown.
Trump said he was weighing “very strong options,” including military and cyber responses, if violence against protesters continued.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, “They’re starting to cross that line, it looks like,” referencing previous warnings against lethal force.
The US president added that talks might not proceed if the situation deteriorated further, saying officials were monitoring developments closely.
Iran’s foreign ministry acknowledged that communication channels remained open but insisted talks must reflect “mutual interests and concerns.”
Human rights groups reported a sharply rising death toll, warning that figures were likely undercounted due to restricted access and fear of reprisals.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 544 people have been killed, including protesters and security personnel.
The organisation also reported more than 10,600 arrests, noting it was still verifying hundreds of additional fatalities.
Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures, and independent verification remains impossible under current conditions.
State media intensified broadcasts of forced confessions, a tactic previously used to justify harsh sentencing and executions.
Rights groups warned that at least ninety-six such confessions had already been aired, raising fears of imminent death sentences.
One protester, identified as twenty-six-year-old Irfan Soltani, was reportedly sentenced to death, with execution scheduled within days.
Read more here:Iran ready for war as Tehran signals openness to negotiations amid escalating protests, US pressure
If carried out, the execution would mark the first since the current protest movement began, drawing international condemnation.
Opposition figures abroad have urged Iranian security forces to defect rather than enforce orders against civilians.
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former shah, called on soldiers and civil servants to “stand with the people” rather than the regime.
Pahlavi claimed thousands within the security apparatus had expressed willingness to defect through online platforms.
Support rallies for Iranian protesters were also held across Europe, North America, and the Middle East over the weekend.
As authorities project strength through mass rallies, the Iran protest crackdown shows no clear signs of resolution.
Analysts say the coming days will determine whether sustained repression can suppress unrest or deepen public resistance.
