Medics Describe Overwhelmed Hospitals as Iran Protests Continue
As protests in Iran persist, Iranian authorities have issued coordinated warnings to protesters. A doctor and medic at two hospitals shared their experiences with the BBC, revealing that their facilities are overwhelmed by the influx of injured individuals. One doctor reported that a Tehran eye hospital had entered crisis mode, while a medic from another hospital stated that they lacked sufficient surgeons to manage the surge in patients.
The situation has escalated further with US President Donald Trump's comments on Friday, warning Iran that they will face retaliation if they resort to violence. Iran, in a letter to the UN Security Council, accused the US of inciting the protests into violent acts of vandalism. International leaders have called for the protection of the right to peaceful protest.
Anti-government protests, which continued on Friday, have taken place in numerous cities. Two human rights groups reported that at least 50 protesters have been killed. The BBC and most international news organizations are restricted from reporting inside Iran, and the country has experienced a near-total internet blackout since Thursday evening, complicating the verification of information.
A doctor from Iran, using Starlink satellite internet on Friday night, described the Farabi Hospital in Tehran, the main eye specialist center, as being in crisis mode, with emergency services overwhelmed. Non-urgent admissions and surgeries were reportedly suspended, and staff were called in to handle emergency cases.
A medic from a hospital in the southwest city of Shiraz shared a video and audio message on Thursday, stating that the hospital was receiving large numbers of injured individuals and lacked enough surgeons to manage the influx. Many of the wounded, he claimed, had gunshot injuries to the head and eyes.
Since the protests began on December 28, at least 50 protesters and 15 security personnel have been killed, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA). Over 2,311 individuals have also been arrested, the group reported. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) reported a similar number of protesters killed, including nine children.
The BBC Persian has confirmed the identities of 22 of the deceased through their families. United Nations Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric expressed deep concern over the loss of life, emphasizing the right to peaceful demonstration and the government's responsibility to protect it.
French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement, urging the Iranian authorities to protect their population and allow freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a defiant televised address, stated that the Islamic Republic would not back down, despite the protests. He claimed that the regime came to power through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands and would not be deterred.
In contrast, the son of Iran's last shah, Reza Pahlavi, praised the protests as 'magnificent' and encouraged Iranians to stage further targeted protests over the weekend. He called for the preparation to seize and hold city centers.
Former British ambassador to Iran, Sir Simon Gass, cautioned against hasty discussions of regime change, citing the lack of an organized opposition within Iran. However, he acknowledged that these protests differ from previous ones, involving a broader movement of protesters triggered by economic struggles.
At the White House, Trump stated that his administration was closely monitoring the situation in Iran, noting the people's control of certain cities. He warned the Iranian leadership that the US would take severe action if they killed protesters, and he denied any plans for US military involvement.
The US State Department responded to Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, by calling his comments 'delusional' and an attempt to deflect from domestic challenges. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the Iranian people, while Iranian political activist Taghi Rahmani expressed skepticism about American support, warning of the potential for foreign intervention to undermine national interests.
