Hundreds killed in Iran during gas hike protest

Editor’s note: This story was written in December 2019, before the recent escalation between Iran and the U.S.

The streets of Iran have erupted in protest.

These protests, that started on a small scale, have turned into what the New York Times has called the, “deadliest political unrest since the Islamic Revolution 40 years ago, with at least 180 people killed.”

This catastrophic unrest was born after a significant hike in gas prices, with citizens beginning to storm the streets.

The gas prices were just the beginning of the unrest, as the protests escalated to a larger movement and were met with backlash from security forces, largely on young men.

Further reports and imagery have revealed that this protest has evolved into a nationwide effort, making it even more significant.

According to the Atlantic, somewhere between 200 to more than 1,000 are now dead with over 7,000 imprisoned.

Images of charred property and destruction have surfaced worldwide highlighting the nature of this conflict.

In the midst of this protest, the Trump Administration has begun to speak on issues of human rights, referencing these events in Iran.

“This administration has taken a completely opposite view of the important political protests, the freedom-seeking, the freedom-loving people of Iran, than President Obama and his administration did,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“these people are simply asking for a basic set of freedoms, and the Iranian leadership—that regime should change in a way that reflects the desires of their own people,” Pompeo said.