The "brutal" repression has "likely suppressed the protest movement for now", said the US-based Institute for the Study of War, which has monitored the protest activity. But it added: "The regime's widespread mobilisation of security forces is unsustainable, however, which makes it possible that protests could resume." Pahlavi also told a news conference in Washington on Friday that "The Islamic republic will fall -- not if, but when." Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) says 3,428 protesters have been verified to have been killed by security forces, but warns the actual toll could be several times higher. Iran's representative at the meeting, Gholamhossein Darzi, accused Washington of "exploitation of peaceful protests for geopolitical purposes."

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 17, 2026 02:51 UTC