An Iranian doctor describes the stark reality of protests in Iran, contradicting international media portrayals of hope amid widespread fear and desperation.
Doctor’s Account Contradicts Media Narrative
A doctor working in Iran described the scene during ongoing protests, stating: “I heard screams, people were gathering. I opened the window for a moment, the smell of gunpowder and tear gas was everywhere. Internet was cut off, then the phone rang with an order to come to the hospital immediately.”
Upon arriving, the doctor found the hospital overwhelmed with casualties. “All operating rooms were occupied. I was there from 10 PM to morning, I don’t how many operations I performed, maybe ten, maybe eleven,” the anonymous medical worker reported.
“By Friday all beds in the hospital were occupied,” the doctor added. “Fear was omnipresent. The hope fueled by foreign media is not what we feel on site – inside Iran there is a mixture of terror, desperation and only a flickering spark of hope.”
Protests Claim Over 2,500 Lives
US-based human rights organization HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) reported that over 2,500 people have died in the Iranian protests. After 17 days of demonstrations, there are reportedly 2,571 casualties, including 2,403 activists and 147 government forces.
Iranian authorities previously mentioned at least 2,000 casualties. CNN reports that over 18,000 protesters have been detained. The anti-government demonstrations, which began in late December, have reportedly taken place in 187 cities.
US-Iran Tensions Escalate
US President Donald Trump called on Iranian government opponents to continue protesting, stating “help is on the way.” Iranian authorities accuse the US and Israel of fueling the protests.
The United States has previously warned of intervention if deaths continue on Iranian streets. Reuters reports that Iran has warned it will attack US military bases in the Middle East in case of American aggression, having sent such warnings to countries from Saudi Arabia to Turkey.
Tehran has also suspended negotiations between President Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steven Witkoff, which had offered hope for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.