Iranian man describes how he survived deadly crackdown on protests

After massive protests in Iran It erupted in December and continued to intensify into the new year, with the government shutting down internet access across the country. But after weeks of trying, a man in Iran was able to overcome the blackout and speak to News themezone via video call, describing what appears to be a massacre of anti-government protesters in early January.

January 8 and 9 are believed to be the bloodiest and most brutal days in the government’s crackdown on protesters since its founding in 1979.

The man asked not to be identified and had his head wrapped in a black cloth and his eyes covered with glasses because he fears the government could find him and imprison or execute him. He described a crackdown on Jan. 9 in the city of Yazd, about 400 miles southeast of the capital, Tehran.

He was among a crowd of about 1,500 people marching toward Imam Hossein Square when, he said, government forces began shooting at them from the front and back in what he believes was a plan to mow down on them from both sides.

Two sources, including one inside Iran, previously told News themezone that at least 12,000, and possibly as many as 20,000 people, have died across Iran in the protests.

“More than a thousand people died that night… because I heard a lot of gunshots,” he said.

He said the only reason he survived was because he was in the middle of the crowd and was able to escape down a side street.

Now the streets across the country are quiet. The man told News themezone that people are sad and angry and that he lost many of his “brothers and sisters” (friends, comrades in arms) in the protests to overthrow the regime.

When asked what he hoped the protests would achieve, the man said: “All the people go out that night and say ‘Pahlavi,'” referring to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavithe exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, who now lives in the Washington, DC area.

“I just want Pahlavi, okay?” said.

In an interview with News themezone’ Norah O’Donnell earlier this month, Pahlavi characterized himself as the voice of Iranians to the outside world and said that people chanting his name during protests shows he could play a role as a transitional leader, although it’s unclear how much support he actually has inside the country.

“Why am I offering my services to Iran? I am answering their call,” he said. “I am a bridge and not destiny right now.”

Pahlavi’s father became shah in 1941 and consolidated his power with a coup in 1953, backed by the United States and the United Kingdom, that overthrew the Iranian prime minister. He ruled until 1979, when he was deposed by the Islamic Revolution.

Some now hope the United States will intervene again.

“On behalf of all Iranians, I ask President Trump to help us achieve freedom, because our freedom is the freedom of the entire world from terrorists,” the man said.

Trump has repeatedly warned Iranian leaders not to kill peaceful protesters and mass execution of people arrested during the riots. He has also threatened possible military action.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group newcomer in the US military’s Central Command area of ​​operations, which covers much of the Middle East region, including Iran. The arrival of the warships came after the commander of the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that his forces had his “the finger on the trigger” following threats from Mr. Trump.

The video call with the Iranian, who suffered numerous problems due to the blackout, was canceled shortly after his plea for US support, but in subsequent text messages, he told News themezone that he wants the US to provide air support “to send the entire leadership of this regime to their own ideological paradise in a lightning strike.”