The New York Times described the Iranian protests as the "worst" unrest in 40 years.
The New York Times, in its first headline on its website on Sunday, December 1, 2019, referred to the deaths of at least 180 people in the November protests, describing the events as the "worst" unrest in Iran in the past four decades.
The American newspaper's report puts the death toll in the Iranian protests at "at least 180 people."
Officials in the Islamic Republic continue to refuse to provide statistics on the number of deaths, although some of them have rejected statistics provided outside Iran.
On the other hand, various estimates indicate that between at least 161 and 366 people were killed during the crackdown on protests by various security forces.
The New York Times, however, echoed the more pessimistic views of some observers, who said the actual death toll could be hundreds higher than estimates, as high as 450.
The newspaper says that in many large and small cities that became the scene of protests shortly after the increase in gasoline prices, security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters: "In the city of Mahshahr alone, witnesses and aid officials reported that 40 to 100 people were killed by IRGC forces, many of whom were young."
In part of its report, the newspaper specifically examined the deadly events in Mahshahr and reflected the statements of a number of citizens, residents, and protesters.
The incident of the clash with protesters in Mahshahr and the existing narratives have been reflected several times in the past few days, including the killing of a number of protesters who had taken refuge in the reeds around Jarahi or Chamran town in Mahshahr to escape from security forces.
Concerns about the extent of the violence in Mahshahr have even reached the open court of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. On December 24, Mahshahr representative Mohammad Golmoradi raised strong protests, and when he went to the presiding officer's seat to express his concerns, a number of members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly blocked him.
The New York Times says that in cities such as Shiraz and Shahriar, dozens of people have also reportedly been killed as a result of security forces shooting at unarmed protesters.
In describing the increase in violence, the American newspaper cited the example of the 2009 protests, in which 72 people were killed over a much longer period of time.
According to the New York Times, recent developments in Iran not only reflect the growing level of internal anger and dissatisfaction with the Islamic Republic's leadership, but also represent serious political and economic challenges facing Tehran; from sanctions by the Trump administration to increasing dissatisfaction and protests against the Islamic Republic in Middle Eastern countries.
The newspaper says many Iranians, disgruntled and bewildered by the situation, have directed their anger directly at the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who has described the crackdown as a just response to the conspiracy of domestic and foreign enemies.
The newspaper is referring to speeches by the Leader of the Islamic Republic in recent days, in which he called the protests a "deep, vast, and extremely dangerous conspiracy" or called on Basij forces to be present in "all neighborhoods."
The New York Times, citing political analysts, has raised the possibility that Iran will witness the return of extremist groups to parliament and government in the next two years.
Analysts told the newspaper that the violent response to the protests is also likely a sign of a deepening rift between the Islamic Republic's leaders and a large segment of the country's 83 million population.
Source: Radio Farda
