People in Iran make contact with outside world, describe scenes on the streets

With the internet down in Iran, accurately reflecting the demonstrations from abroad has been difficult. But with the return of some communications on Tuesday, The Associated Press was able to make contact with people in the country who were witnessing and taking part in the protests.

The demonstrations began a little over two weeks ago in anger over Iran’s ailing economy and soon targeted the theocracy, particularly 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Images obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press from demonstrations in Tehran showed graffiti and chants calling for Khamenei’s death — something that could carry a death sentence.

Skylar Thompson, with the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) told AP the new death toll connected to the demonstrations of more than 2,000 people was shocking, particularly since it reached four times that of the months-long Mahsa Amini protests in 2022 in just two weeks.

She warned that the toll would likely still rise: “We’re horrified, but we still think the number is conservative.”

Speaking by phone for the first time since their calls were cut off from the outside world, Iranian witnesses described a heavy security presence in central Tehran, burned-out government buildings and smashed bank machines.

Reza, a taxi driver who gave only his first name, said the protests are on many people’s minds. “People — particularly young ones — are hopeless, but they talk about continuing the protests,” he said.

Iranians reach out, but world can’t reach in

Several people in Tehran were able to call the AP on Tuesday and speak to a journalist, but the AP bureau in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was unable to call those numbers back.

Witnesses said text messaging was still down, and internet users in Iran could connect to government-approved websites locally but nothing abroad.

They described a heavily militarized scene: Anti-riot police officers wearing helmets and body armour while carrying batons, shields, shotguns and tear-gas launchers, according to the witnesses. Police stood watch at major intersections.

Nearby, witnesses said they saw members of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force, who carried firearms and batons. Security officials in plainclothes were visible in public spaces.

Several banks and government offices were burned during the unrest, witnesses said. Banks struggled to complete transactions without the internet, they added.

Shops were open, though there was little foot traffic in the capital. Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, where the demonstrations began on Dec. 28 over the collapse of Iran’s rial currency, opened Tuesday.

A witness described speaking to multiple shopkeepers who said security forces ordered them to reopen no matter what. Iranian state media did not acknowledge that order.

The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

It also appeared that security service personnel were searching for Starlink terminals, as people in northern Tehran reported authorities raiding apartment buildings with satellite dishes. While satellite television dishes are illegal, many in the capital have them in homes, and officials broadly had given up on enforcing the law in recent years.

On the streets, people also could be seen challenging plainclothes security officials, who were stopping passersby at random.

Some said people were concerned about what comes next, including the possibility of a U.S. attack after President Donald Trump threatened to intervene in Iran over its crackdown on the protesters.

“My customers talk about Trump’s reaction while wondering if he plans a military strike against the Islamic Republic,” said shopkeeper Mahmoud, who gave only his first name out of concern for his safety. “I don’t expect Trump or any other foreign country cares about the interests of Iranians.”

Pro-government demonstrations

In a statement carried by state TV, Khamenei praised the tens of thousands who took part in pro-government demonstrations nationwide on Monday.

“This was a warning to American politicians to stop their deceit and not rely on traitorous mercenaries,” he said. “The Iranian nation is strong and powerful and aware of the enemy.”

State TV on Monday aired chants from the crowd, which appeared to number in the tens of thousands. They chanted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” Others cried out, “Death to the enemies of God!”