Warum Irans brutaler Ayatollah bis zum blutigen Ende durchhalten wird

Iranian protesters are facing [increasingly brutal repression](https://inews.co.uk/news/us-forces-operation-seize-russian-tanker-4154191?ico=in-line_link) from regime security forces as the country’s ageing dictator digs in ever harder to preserve his Islamic theocracy.

More than 500 people have reportedly been killed in the protests, which broke out nearly two weeks ago and spiralled into some of the most significant anti-government unrest since the [“Woman, Life, Freedom” demonstrations of 2022](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/iran-protest-young-women-failed-hopes-wont-back-down-1929714?srsltid=AfmBOoqNkzivg5buTJkS8nPpaD6zC_tZsQCRyvLiseBeC_FLxjpdunES&ico=in-line_link).

Sparked in Tehran in December by the plunging value of the rial and other economic woes, the protests swiftly turned on the regime. Chants of “death to the dictator” and “death to the Islamic Republic” are now heard across the country.

The US President, [Donald Trump](https://inews.co.uk/topic/donald-trump?srsltid=AfmBOop006DXnd_EzIuNsZLr2LAbjtgNbXjY5ShdSAOyrCJjkdauq0Iz&ico=in-line_link), who has threatened to intervene if protesters are killed, is believed to be [weighing up options including military strikes](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/why-trigger-happy-trump-think-twice-wading-iran-next-4161609?ico=in-line_link) against Iranian security forces.

However, that does not appeared to have deterred them, with 538 people killed, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, including 490 protesters and 48 Iran security personnel, as well as 10,000 arrests.

Iran has not given an official toll and the numbers are unverified. With [Iran](https://inews.co.uk/topic/iran?srsltid=AfmBOorhF4telp_wWWq2JO3i_4ysCqisjXdM7Vz7IdY5FDpGuJc9rKPd&ico=in-line_link) under an internet blackout, however, those numbers are only likely to grow.

Do not let the regime control the information. More help should be given to the people to overcome internet blackout.