• Iranian protests reach a pivotal two-week mark with at least 116 casualties reported.
• The government has imposed a significant internet blackout, making it difficult to gauge the full scale of demonstrations.
• Reza Pahlavi, the son of the ousted shah, has called for continued protests and criticized government oppression.
• The Iranian authorities have threatened to retaliate against the U.S. and Israel if military action is taken in response to the unrest.
• Activists warn that the death toll could be much higher than reported due to the restriction of information flow.

Nationwide protests in Iran are intensifying as the movement marks its two-week anniversary, with at least 116 people dead due to violent clashes since they began on December 28, 2023, according to human rights activists. This wave of unrest has been primarily triggered by soaring inflation and economic grievances, which have turned into widespread calls for the removal of the country's clerical leadership, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as noted by various sources including Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and Los Angeles Times.

The Iranian government has implemented extensive internet restrictions, limiting communication and information sharing both within and outside the country. The internet shutdown has reportedly persisted for over 60 hours, leaving reports from activists to suggest that the actual death toll may be significantly higher than the official count of 116, a concern echoed by several human rights organizations including the Human Rights Activists News Agency and the Center for Human Rights in Iran, according to HuffPost, BBC, and Le Monde.

In response to the protests, Iranian authorities have threatened severe repercussions for demonstrators, with statements from the attorney general designating protesters as "enemies of God," a charge punishable by death. Furthermore, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has warned that any U.S. military intervention would make all American military installations and Israel "legitimate targets" for retaliation, illustrating the rising tensions between Iran and the U.S., as discussed by sources like NPR, CBS News, and Reuters.

Global reactions have included expressions of solidarity with the Iranian protesters by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has signaled readiness to support the movement against the Iranian government. Trump's statements have inspired demonstrators amid heavy state repression, leading to calls from exiled figures such as Reza Pahlavi for further protests, suggesting that the international dimension of the unrest could amplify its effects inside Iran. These sentiments were echoed in the reports from India Times and NPR.

Moreover, as Iranian authorities continue to crack down on dissent, there are grave concerns about potential violence against protesters, with the situation being likened to previous bouts of severe repression faced during earlier uprisings. Observers warn of a possible massacre amidst the government's escalated response, as mentioned by organizations like Amnesty International and corroborated by eyewitness accounts from various sources Le Monde, HuffPost, and Reuters.