BBC Online :
At least 12 people have been killed in Iran since protests against fuel price rises erupted three days ago, officials have said, although reports suggest the number of dead is far higher.
The situation on the streets is unclear on account of a nationwide internet shutdown. But demonstrations are reportedly continuing in some cities.
The government said Monday had been “calmer”, despite “some minor issues”.
Meanwhile, the powerful Revolutionary Guards demanded an end to the unrest.
A statement said Iran’s “sworn and evil enemies” had once again attempted to “sow discord”, and that the force would “firmly deal with the continuation of any kind of insecurity or actions to disrupt the people’s calm and comfort”.
The foreign ministry also criticised the US for expressing support for the protesters. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that “the United States is with you”, while the White House said it condemned the lethal force and severe communications restrictions used against demonstrators.
Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi described Mr Pompeo’s remark as “hypocritical” because Iran’s economy had been crippled by sanctions reimposed by President Donald Trump last year in an attempt to force it to negotiate a new nuclear deal with world powers.
The protests erupted on Friday after the government announced the price of petrol would be increased by 50% to 15,000 rials ($0.12; £0.09 at the unofficial market exchange rate) a litre and that drivers would be allowed to purchase only 60 litres each month before the price rose to 30,000 rials.
President Hassan Rouhani said the government was acting in the public interest, and that the money raised would be distributed to the country’s neediest citizens.
However, the decision was met with widespread anger in a country where the economy is already reeling as a result of US sanctions that have caused oil exports to collapse and the value of the rial to plummet, and sent the inflation rate soaring. Blackout suggests unrest is not over
Iran has experienced an internet blackout since Saturday afternoon, when the country’s National Security Council reportedly ordered providers to cut off access to the internet and switch over to the nationwide “intranet”, on which only selected websites are allowed.
For us journalists based outside Iran, it has been very difficult to get a real sense of how widespread the protests are. But the fact that the internet is still down, and that schools in dozens of cities are closed, suggests that the unrest is far from over. Some people have managed to share videos of the protests despite the restrictions. Gunfire can be heard in them, but it is not easy to get a confirmed number of casualties.
During similar protests in January 2018, the authorities shut down the internet for a day or two. This time, it is unclear how long Iran will remain cut off from the world.
By Sunday the protests had reached some 100 cities and towns, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. At least 100 banks and 57 shops were set on fire, and about 1,000 people were arrested, it said.
Videos posted on social media by people in Iran showed protests in the capital, Tehran, as well as Tabriz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Sanandaj and Shiraz.
At least 12 people have been killed in Iran since protests against fuel price rises erupted three days ago, officials have said, although reports suggest the number of dead is far higher.
The situation on the streets is unclear on account of a nationwide internet shutdown. But demonstrations are reportedly continuing in some cities.
The government said Monday had been “calmer”, despite “some minor issues”.
Meanwhile, the powerful Revolutionary Guards demanded an end to the unrest.
A statement said Iran’s “sworn and evil enemies” had once again attempted to “sow discord”, and that the force would “firmly deal with the continuation of any kind of insecurity or actions to disrupt the people’s calm and comfort”.
The foreign ministry also criticised the US for expressing support for the protesters. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that “the United States is with you”, while the White House said it condemned the lethal force and severe communications restrictions used against demonstrators.
Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi described Mr Pompeo’s remark as “hypocritical” because Iran’s economy had been crippled by sanctions reimposed by President Donald Trump last year in an attempt to force it to negotiate a new nuclear deal with world powers.
The protests erupted on Friday after the government announced the price of petrol would be increased by 50% to 15,000 rials ($0.12; £0.09 at the unofficial market exchange rate) a litre and that drivers would be allowed to purchase only 60 litres each month before the price rose to 30,000 rials.
President Hassan Rouhani said the government was acting in the public interest, and that the money raised would be distributed to the country’s neediest citizens.
However, the decision was met with widespread anger in a country where the economy is already reeling as a result of US sanctions that have caused oil exports to collapse and the value of the rial to plummet, and sent the inflation rate soaring. Blackout suggests unrest is not over
Iran has experienced an internet blackout since Saturday afternoon, when the country’s National Security Council reportedly ordered providers to cut off access to the internet and switch over to the nationwide “intranet”, on which only selected websites are allowed.
For us journalists based outside Iran, it has been very difficult to get a real sense of how widespread the protests are. But the fact that the internet is still down, and that schools in dozens of cities are closed, suggests that the unrest is far from over. Some people have managed to share videos of the protests despite the restrictions. Gunfire can be heard in them, but it is not easy to get a confirmed number of casualties.
During similar protests in January 2018, the authorities shut down the internet for a day or two. This time, it is unclear how long Iran will remain cut off from the world.
By Sunday the protests had reached some 100 cities and towns, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. At least 100 banks and 57 shops were set on fire, and about 1,000 people were arrested, it said.
Videos posted on social media by people in Iran showed protests in the capital, Tehran, as well as Tabriz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Sanandaj and Shiraz.
