Iranian Hospitals Strain Under Deadly Wave of Protests Amid Rising Death Toll
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian hospitals are buckling under the pressure of a surge in casualties as anti-government protests continue to engulf cities across the Islamic Republic. Medical staff report treating numerous severe injuries, including gunshot wounds to the head and eyes, as the death toll climbs to at least 72 and more than 2,300 people are detained amid the unrest.
Doctors at Tehran’s Farabi Hospital, the city’s primary eye specialist center, described entering crisis mode with emergency services overwhelmed and non-urgent admissions suspended. A medic from Shiraz echoed these concerns, highlighting the influx of wounded patients despite a shortage of surgeons to provide care. The accounts were reported by the BBC and reflect the severe strain on Iran’s healthcare infrastructure.
The protests erupted late last month, initially sparked by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants reacting to soaring inflation and the collapse of the rial, which lost nearly half its value against the U.S. dollar last year. Inflation topped 40% in December, fueling widespread economic hardship. The unrest quickly spread to universities and provincial cities, where confrontations between young demonstrators and security forces intensified.
President Donald Trump addressed the crisis during a news conference in Washington, D.C., noting that the Iranian regime is under mounting pressure. “Iran’s in big trouble,” Trump said. “It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago. We’re watching the situation very carefully.” He warned that the United States would respond forcefully if the Iranian government resorts to further violence, stating, “We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.”
Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signaled a crackdown despite international warnings. Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, declared that anyone participating in protests would be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty under Iranian law. The statement, broadcast on state television, also threatened those who assist protesters.
The escalating violence and government response have drawn the attention of human rights organizations and international observers. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, over 2,300 people have been detained in connection with the protests. The situation remains volatile, with reports of armed clashes between protesters and security forces continuing.
Iran’s economic turmoil, driven by inflation and currency devaluation, has been compounded by political repression, igniting one of the most significant waves of dissent since the Islamic Republic’s founding. The crisis has also attracted global scrutiny, with agencies such as the U.S. Department of State monitoring developments closely.
As hospitals struggle to cope, the international community watches for signs of further escalation or potential shifts in Iran’s political landscape. The unfolding events underscore the challenges faced by medical personnel working amid conflict and the broader implications for regional stability.
For ongoing updates on the situation and humanitarian responses, resources like the Human Rights Watch and the United Nations provide detailed reports and analyses.
The crisis in Iran highlights the intersection of economic distress, political dissent, and human rights concerns, with the world closely observing how the Islamic Republic navigates this turbulent chapter.
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