Iran's government television broadcast images of fires burning at several locations on the streets of Tehran amid sustained large-scale protests.
Footage aired on local TV shows multiple cars set ablaze on streets at night, with protestors shouting and marching along the roads. State media did not provide further details about the number of participants or the extent of damage.
Reports indicate the protests erupted after Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince living abroad, called on Iranians to rally against the government amid escalating political tensions in the country.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, based in the United States, reported that since unrest began, there have been more than 390 protest events across all 31 provinces of Iran.
The report states that at least 42 people have died, and over 2,270 individuals have been arrested. The agency relies on a network of activists inside Iran for information and has a history of accurate reporting on previous unrest.
However, assessing the scale and intensity of the protests is challenging because Iranian state media provides limited information on the demonstrations. Online videos show only brief clips of people on the streets or occasional gunfire sounds.
Meanwhile, reporters in Iran face several restrictions, including needing permission to travel to various parts of the country and risks of harassment or arrest by authorities. Internet shutdowns further hinder access to information and reporting, resulting in no official reports yet on injuries or arrests related to the protests.
Iranian state media operate under strict laws prohibiting domestic outlets from cooperating with or sharing footage with foreign media. Violations can lead to immediate closure of media offices within Iran by authorities.
:SourceAP
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