Anti-government protests in Iran entered their 11th day on Wednesday, despite a widening security crackdown that has left dozens dead and more than 2,000 people arrested, according to rights groups.
Demonstrators gathered in cities across the country chanting “Death to the dictator,” as protests and strikes continued in multiple locations, including Kermanshah, Shiraz, Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, Kerman, Sabzevar, Shahrekord, Neyshabur, Qom and Gonabad.
Reports say at least 34 protesters have been killed since the unrest began, while 2,076 people have been detained by Iranian security forces.
The HRANA news agency said protests and labour strikes had spread to 285 locations across 92 cities in 27 provinces by the 10th day of demonstrations.
The unrest, fuelled by economic pressure, soaring inflation and deepening social discontent, marks one of the largest waves of protests in Iran in recent years.
Meanwhile, the British newspaper The Times previously reported, citing an intelligence assessment, that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has considered an emergency plan to leave the country and relocate to Russia should domestic unrest escalate further and security forces fail to contain the protests.
Iranian authorities have not commented publicly on that report and continue to blame foreign actors for inciting unrest.
