Massive new news out of Iran from Tousi TV — apparently the Anonymous collective managed to help local hackers in Iran hijack the entire regime state TV (IRIB) for at least 10 minutes tonight (around 9:30 pm local time) to spread videos of mass protests still taking place throughout the country, and an address by Reza Pahlavi directly to the Artesh (Iran’s professional regular army) to support the people against the regime! This also seems to have occurred at about the same time at least partial internet service was restored to the country, despite the regime’s best efforts to keep it offline for the indefinite future — so they can continue to shape the false narrative that the revolution had been crushed and “normality” restored:
Meanwhile Iran International, quoting a report from doctors within Iran to the Sunday Times earlier today, has a truly horrific look at the casualties already inflicted on the population by the regime’s security forces in their desperate attempt to cling to power:
At least 16,500 protesters have been killed and about 330,000 injured during Iran’s unrest, according to a report compiled by doctors inside the country and cited by The Sunday Times, as a near-total internet blackout has made independent verification increasingly difficult.
The report, based on information from a network of medical professionals across Iran, said the injuries included widespread gunshot wounds and severe eye trauma, with hundreds to thousands suffering permanent blindness.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei acknowledged for the first time on Saturday that “several thousands” had been killed since protests began three weeks ago, blaming the violence on protesters and foreign enemies.
The doctors’ report said most deaths occurred over two days during what it described as the most violent phase of the crackdown in the Islamic Republic’s 47-year history, with most victims believed to be under 30.
Similarly, cracks are now beginning to appear among the regime’s diplomats abroad. Also from Iran International:
A senior Iranian diplomat based at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva has left his post and applied for asylum in Switzerland, diplomatic sources told Iran International, amid mounting political unrest in Iran.
Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, a senior official at Iran’s permanent mission to the UN in Geneva, sought asylum together with his family after leaving his workplace, the sources said. He held the rank of counsellor and served as minister plenipotentiary, effectively the deputy head of Iran’s mission to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva.
The sources said Jeyrani decided not to return to Iran out of fear of potential repercussions linked to the ongoing political and social upheaval in the country, as well as concerns over the stability of the Islamic Republic’s governing structure.
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Diplomatic sources said that growing international support for Iranian protesters, including statements by European leaders and the European Parliament, has contributed to rising anxiety among Iranian diplomats stationed in Europe.
Several Iranian diplomats have in recent weeks privately contacted authorities in European countries to explore or submit asylum requests, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
European sources said several governments are reviewing or have decided to more readily accept asylum requests from Iranian diplomats, even in cases where applicants cannot immediately demonstrate a direct threat to their lives.
More countries are now closing their embassies in Iran, particularly Europeans, with the most recent list including:
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New Zealand
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United Kingdom
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Portugal
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Switzerland
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Australia
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Bulgaria
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Czech Republic
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Slovakia
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Finland
And unfortunately all too many Iranians, both within and outside the country, are learning the hard way not to put too much trust in anything Trump might say during the spur of the moment. From Time:
When President Donald Trump told protesters in Iran that “help is on its way,” they took heart. Their hopes rose further on Wednesday, with news that the Pentagon had ordered some non-essential personnel from its largest Middle East air base, a move seen as preparation for battle. But on Thursday, when Trump reversed course, announcing that Iran’s regime had agreed to stop killing its people in the streets, protestors felt betrayed, they told TIME.
“He's not only yellow on the outside, he's also yellow inside,” said an arts teacher in Tehran.
“After he said the Iranian authorities had told him there won’t be any more killings and executions, everyone was just stunned,” said an Iranian interviewed Friday, after traveling out of the country. “Everyone was enraged; they just kept saying this bastard used us as cannon fodder. Iranians feel that they were played, that he fooled them, deceived them.”
“Trump is worse than Obama,” said a 40-year-old businessman in Tehran, who said he called friends and relatives to give them the good news after Trump’s “help is on its way” post. “He screwed up. He pulled the rug from under our feet.”
The interviews were conducted after Trump appeared to back down from carrying out long-threatened military action against Iran this week. But the President added to the uncertainty again on Saturday by calling for an end to the rule of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
