Major fires engulfed several shops and a bank in the Iranian capital city of Tehran on Sunday, with thick black smoke rising over the city amid ongoing nationwide protests that have now entered their third week.
Footage from the China Media Group (CMG) filmed at the scene on Sunday shows large flames consuming buildings as well as charred remains of shops and a bank destroyed by shelling.
The death toll from the demonstrations has risen sharply, with Iranian state media reporting at least 109 security force members killed since the protests began 14 days ago. International human rights groups, based outside Iran, estimate the number of civilian fatalities exceeds 200, though these figures remain unverified independently.
In a nationally televised address on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed the government's intent to address public economic concerns while condemning what he characterized as foreign-backed sabotage.
He emphasized that the state is prepared to engage with legitimate grievances but would not tolerate violent unrest, which he attributed to incitement by the United States and Israel. Pezeshkian urged national unity against acts of destruction, framing recent vandalism as part of a destabilizing conspiracy.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions. To contain the unrest, the government has restricted internet access for four straight days, with monitoring group NetBlocks reporting a disruption lasting more than 60 hours.
Shops, bank set ablaze amid escalating unrest in Tehran
Shops, bank set ablaze amid escalating unrest in Tehran
Shops, bank set ablaze amid escalating unrest in Tehran
