Iran is set for a crucial address from its president amid escalating nationwide protests and a severe crackdown. President Masoud Pezeshkian will speak on state television this Sunday to discuss the government's major economic plans and respond to the demands of the people, as confirmed by the state broadcaster IRIB.
Economic Grievances Spark Widespread Unrest
The development follows two weeks of intense protests primarily driven by public anger over the soaring cost of living and economic hardship. In a statement, IRIB said the president would lay out the status of a key government plan to reform the subsidy system and explain the administration's approach to recent events.
The protests have turned violent, leading to significant casualties. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights confirmed on Sunday that at least 192 protesters have been killed since the demonstrations began. The group warned that the actual death toll could be much higher, as a days-long internet blackout across the country has severely hampered independent verification efforts.
Authorities Launch Major Crackdown and Arrests
Concurrently, Iranian authorities have intensified their response. National police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan announced on Sunday that significant arrests of key figures in the protest movement were made on Saturday evening. He stated that these "main elements in the riots" would be punished after legal procedures.
The protests represent the most significant anti-government challenge in years, with scenes of demonstrators blocking intersections and vehicles burning in the capital, Tehran, and other cities. While many protesters chant slogans like "Down with the dictator," targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, others have broader demands for sweeping political change.
Son of Former Shah Emerges as Symbolic Figure
Adding a historical dimension to the current unrest, Reza Pahlavi, the 65-year-old son of Iran's last shah, has emerged as a prominent voice encouraging the protesters from his home in the United States. In messages posted on social media platform X, he has praised Iranians demanding change and called for an end to repression, mirroring the language used against his father's regime in 1979.
"We will completely bring the Islamic Republic and its worn-out, fragile apparatus of repression to its knees," Pahlavi said in a recent video. His messages appear to be galvanizing some protesters, with videos on social media showing chants of "Long live the shah" during demonstrations.
The protests unfold against a backdrop of deep economic crisis. Iran's economy has been hammered by years of international sanctions and was further pummelled by a 12-day war in June, following airstrikes by Israel and the United States. The combination of geopolitical pressure and internal discontent has created a volatile situation, with President Pezeshkian's upcoming interview being closely watched for any sign of policy shift or concession.
