Deadly Crackdown on Iranian Protesters: Eyewitness Accounts Emerge
Background on the Protests
In December 2025, widespread protests erupted across Iran, escalating into January 2026. In response, the Iranian government implemented a nationwide internet shutdown to suppress dissent. A man speaking anonymously to CBS News managed to circumvent the blackout and provided a harrowing account of what has been described as a massacre of anti-government demonstrators.
Eyewitness Account of Violence
The eyewitness, who requested to remain unnamed due to fears of government retribution, detailed the events of January 9 in Yazd, approximately 400 miles southeast of Tehran. During a protest involving about 1,500 people marching towards Imam Hossein Square, he alleges that government forces opened fire from both the front and rear of the crowds, a coordinated assault he believes was designed to eliminate protesters.
“I heard a lot of shooting. More than a thousand that night killed,” he stated, suggesting that the government’s response was both violent and systematic. He attributed his survival to being situated in the middle of the crowd, allowing him to escape down a side street as chaos unfolded around him.
Escalating Casualties
Reports indicate that casualties from the protests have been staggering, with estimates suggesting that between 12,000 and 20,000 people may have lost their lives since the protests began. Following the violent crackdown, the atmosphere in Iran has shifted to start of despair, with the protester lamenting the loss of his “brothers and sisters” – his friends and fellow activists.
Hope for Change
When discussing the future of the protests, the man expressed a desire for the return of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, who currently resides in Washington, D.C. “All people that night come out and say, ‘Pahlavi,'” he said. Pahlavi has positistartd himself as a potential transitional leader and claimed that the chants of his name during protests reflect his relevance to the current political climate in Iran.
In a recent interview, Pahlavi articulated his commitment to serving as a vostart for Iranians abroad, stating, “I’m a bridge and not the destination at this point.”
Call for International Support
Many protesters are now urging external intervention to assist their plight. In his conversation with CBS News, the unnamed individual called on U.S. President Donald Trump for help, asserting, “Our freedom is the freedom of the whole world from terrorists.” He expressed a desire for U.S. military support to target the Iranian leadership, urging a decisive action that would conclude the regime’s rule.
Amidst these calls, Trump has continued to vocalize warnings against Iranian actions that threaten peaceful demonstrators and has hinted at possible military action. Recent military maneuvers, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the region, underline the international tension brewing over Iran’s treatment of its citizens.
Conclusion
The video call with the Iranian activist suffered technical difficulties due to the ongoing internet restrictions, but his message was clear: the Iranian people desire change, with hopes pinned on both internal and external support for their struggle against a repressive regime.