Tehran (Iran): World leaders on Saturday expressed strong condemnation of the Iranian regime’s response to ongoing protests, as demonstrations spread across the country and reports of deaths and mass arrests triggered international alarm. Australia, Canada and the European Union, in a joint statement issued from Canberra, criticised the use of lethal force against protesters and urged Tehran to respect basic civil liberties.
The foreign ministers of the three entities praised the courage of Iranian citizens who have taken to the streets, asserting their right to peaceful protest. They strongly denounced the killing of demonstrators, arbitrary arrests and intimidation tactics allegedly used by security forces, and called on the Iranian government to immediately halt violence against civilians.
According to the statement, Iran must stop the use of excessive and deadly force by its security agencies, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij militia. The ministers noted that more than 40 people have reportedly lost their lives so far and stressed that the regime has a responsibility to safeguard its population and ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of retaliation.
Analysts in Israel have warned that the unrest may be approaching a critical stage, with the potential to seriously challenge the regime’s grip on power. Citing reports from Mako Israel, over a million people are said to have participated in protests across multiple regions, while signs have emerged of intensified suppression efforts by the Revolutionary Guards.
Further raising concerns, Time magazine quoted an Iranian doctor, speaking anonymously, who claimed that at least 217 protesters had died in just six hospitals in Tehran, most as a result of live ammunition. The reported figures have intensified scrutiny of the regime’s handling of the unrest.
Prominent Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad said the government had enforced a nationwide internet shutdown, cutting off access for nearly 90 million people for more than 24 hours. Sharing videos she said were sent via Starlink, Alinejad described internet connectivity as vital to the uprising and credited Starlink services with enabling communication and sustaining the protest movement.
Backing the protesters, Iranian Crown Prince-in-exile Reza Pahlavi called on the Iranian diaspora to step up efforts by staging demonstrations abroad and engaging with political leaders, governments and media organisations. In a video message posted on X, he urged continued international attention to ensure that the voices of Iranians are not silenced and appealed for unity to bring about political change.
The situation has also drawn attention from the United States, with President Donald Trump stating that Washington is closely monitoring developments. He warned that if the killing of protesters continues, the US would intervene and take strong action against Iran.
The protests entered their thirteenth day on Friday, evolving from demonstrations over rising living costs into a wider movement demanding an end to the regime that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Internet monitoring group Netblocks reported that Iran’s nationwide shutdown reduced connectivity to just one per cent of normal levels, calling it a serious violation of fundamental rights and an attempt to conceal state violence.
