Doctor says at least 217 dead in Tehran as security forces open fire

Time reported that as protests against Iran’s government swelled on Thursday night the regime opened fire in many places, and a Tehran doctor speaking on condition of anonymity said six hospitals in the capital had recorded at least 217 protester deaths, "most by live ammunition." The doctor’s count, if confirmed, would follow a near-total shutdown of the nation’s internet and phone connections since Thursday night and would, the outlet said, pose a direct challenge to U.S.

President Donald Trump, who earlier warned the regime would "pay hell" if it killed protesters. The demonstrations now span all 31 provinces and began as protests against a collapsing economy before broadening into calls to overthrow the Islamic regime; rallies have largely been peaceful with chants of "Freedom" and "Death to the Dictator," though some government buildings have been vandalized.

The doctor said authorities removed corpses on Friday and that most of the dead were young, including several killed outside a northern Tehran police station when security forces sprayed machine-gun fire—activists reported at least 30 people were shot in that incident. Human rights groups reported lower totals: the D.C.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency reported at least 63 deaths since the start of the protests, including 49 civilians.

Key Topics

World, Iran, Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Revolutionary Guard, Basij