Iran protests ease off after weeks of chaos and violence

Nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy appear to have been smothered, a week after authorities shut the country off from the world and escalated a crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,615 people. In the capital Tehran, witnesses said there had been no new signs of bonfires or debris in the streets.

- JON GAMBRELL

The sound of gunfire, which had been intense for several nights, has also faded.

State media has announced wave after wave of arrests by the authorities, who targeted those they referred to as "terrorists" while also apparently looking for Starlink satellite internet dishes, which are the only way to get videos and images onto the internet. "Since January 8, we saw a full-fledged war, and anybody who was in the gathering since then is a criminal," said justice minister Amin Hossein Rahimi, according to a report published on Wednesday by the judiciary's Mizan news agency.

The demonstrations began on 28 December over the collapse of the Iranian currency, the rial, after the country's economy was squeezed by international sanctions levied in part because of its nuclear programme. But as the regime tries to assert control at home, it has signalled concern about threats from other countries, including the US, which has threatened to launch military action over the killing of peaceful demonstrators.

The Islamic Republic shut its airspace for hours early yesterday morning without explanation, something it has done in previous rounds of attacks between Iran and Israel, as well as during a 12day war in June 2025. The US also took steps to move some personnel from Qatar's al-Udeid airbase, while warning diplomats in Kuwait to stay away from military bases where US troops are stationed.