Franco Ordonez

Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

Yeah, the Iranian security forces are using deadly force much more frequently in recent days.

More than 500 Iranians have been killed now over the past two weeks.

These are mostly protesters and some security force members.

This is according to the human rights activists in Iran.

They are based here in the U.S.

but have monitors in Iran.

Now, neither NPR nor other news organization can verify these figures because information is so fragmented from Iran right now.

The government has shut down the Internet for the past several days.

We are seeing videos on social media, but very little solid information.

Local journalists are restrained.

Foreign journalists can't get into the country.

And over the years, we've seen several outbursts of these large street demonstrations dating back really to 2009.

The latest one erupted over miserable economic conditions, but now there are increasing calls to oust the regime.

This may well be the biggest challenge to the Islamic government since it came to power in 1979.

Yeah, Iran has really suffered this series of major setbacks in the past two years.

First, among its proxy network in the region and now at home, it really starts, Juana, with the Hamas attack in Israel in October of 2023.

Israel's harsh response decimated Hamas, which has been supported by Iran.

And a year later, the fall of 2024, Israel delivered another powerful blow, this time to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Iran also backs.

Right after that, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad fled, removing another ally.