Death Toll Passes 540 Amid Total Internet Blackout

TEHRAN : Rights groups are sounding the alarm over a massive humanitarian crisis in Iran, where a violent state crackdown on nationwide protests has reportedly claimed at least 540 lives, including 48 security personnel.

According to US-based rights group HRANA, over 10,600 people have been arrested since demonstrations erupted on December 28. The flow of information remains severely restricted due to a nationwide internet blackout that began last Thursday, leaving the international community to rely on fragmented social media footage and satellite intelligence.

What began as a protest against soaring prices and economic mismanagement has transformed into one of the most significant challenges to clerical rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Protesters are now openly chanting for the fall of the clerical establishment and expressing deep resentment toward the Revolutionary Guards, who control billions of dollars in business interests.

Social media footage from Saturday showed massive crowds marching through Tehran, with witnesses describing the demonstrations as having “no end nor beginning.”

In response to the internet blackout, President Donald Trump has indicated he will discuss restoring access with Elon Musk via the Starlink satellite service. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, however, defended the blackout, stating that service would only resume “in coordination with security authorities.”

As the violence spikes, President Trump is set to meet with senior advisers to discuss several aggressive options, including:

Targeted attacks on elite military bases.

Deployment of secret cyber weapons.

Widening existing sanctions.

Providing online tools to help anti-government sources.

The Iranian government continues to blame “terrorist actions led by the United States and Israel” for the unrest. State media on Monday aired live footage of pro-government rallies and funeral processions for security forces, framing the events as a resistance against foreign intervention.

Despite the bloodshed, some experts believe the establishment remains cohesive for now, even as it faces a crisis that has drastically reduced its regional clout and domestic legitimacy.