A video, verified by BBC Persian, shows buildings on fire in Tehran, Iran's capital, as anti-government protests continue to rock the country for the 12th consecutive day.
The video shows mosques in Gholhak and Sa'adat Abad neighbourhoods of Tehran on fire. Apart from this, vehicles can be seen ablaze amid a sea of people on the streets. One visual also shows mangled remains of the charred vehicles while another shows people tearing up hoardings and vandalising statues on road amid cheering and applause.
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The unrest unfolds
According to human rights group, marking the 12th consecutive day, the protest has now spread to over 100 cities and towns across 31 of Iran's provinces.
At least 34 protesters have thus far lost their lives, including five children and eight security personnel, said US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) while also adding that as many as 2,270 other protesters have been arrested.
The protesters chanted slogans against the Islamic Republic's leadership. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump reiterated his threat to attack Iran if security forces killed any of the protesters.
In the wave of demonstrations, protesters set fire to a building belonging to Iran's state television network in Isfahan. In Tehran, protesters torched police motorcycles and a billboard with Qasem Soleimani's image was also set on fire. The demonstrators also burned portraits of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At other places, protesters chanted "death to the dictator".
In Khorramabad, the demonstrators reportedly burned down the governor's office and Iran's pre-1979 flag.
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Internet shut
On Thursday, all communications were cut off with the shutdown of the Internet by NetBlocks. The Associated Press reported that phone lines were also disconnected.
As protests intensified, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged security forces to avoid violence. "Protesters must be treated with tolerance and all forms of violence against them must be avoided," he said and added that the public's demands should be heard.
He also warned suppliers against hoarding goods or raising prices excessively, saying the government must ensure adequate supply and price supervision.
How it began
It started as an organised protest in Tehran's markets and universities against rampant inflation and a plummeting currency which had made everyday items unaffordable for people.
Last week, the central bank ended a programme that was allowing a section of importers to access cheaper US dollars as compared to the remaining market. This decision led shopkeepers to hike prices and prices of basic goods soared dramatically overnight. Moreover, this volatility even led some shopkeepers to shut down.
After several days of protests, the reformist-ruled government tried to alleviate the burden by offering cash worth $7 per month, while also exclaiming that this measure alone could not solve the crisis.
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"We should not expect the government to handle all of this alone," President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday.
However, later, after the deployment of government security forces, it soon took a violent turn with thousands of people joining.
