Iran witnessed its most brutal form of state repression since 1979:...

Key Highlights

• Each stressed that their impressions were drawn not only from what they personally witnessed, but from conversations with friends, relatives, employees, and colleagues across multiple cities and towns.
• However, all three concurred on one unanimous conclusion – that the demonstrations on the evening of January 8 dwarfed any other round of protests they had seen or heard of, with one claiming that crowds that took to the streets nationwide numbered in millions.
• A European diplomat, citing intelligence shared with Iran International, said at least 1.5 million people took to the streets in Tehran alone on January 8.
• He said the turnout had dipped the following night as security forces flooded the streets and opened fire on gathering protesters, conducting a full-fledged massacre.
• Even so, he estimated that up to half a million stormed the capital on Friday.