As the government's crackdown on the ongoing anti-government protests in Iran demanding freedom intensifies, protests have begun around the world to show solidarity with the Iranian people.

Iranian businessmen, who were upset by the sharp rise in prices, have been holding street protests across the country since December 28, entering their third week. 

International media outlets have reported that the government has been cracking down on protesters by shutting down internet and telephone services across the country since last Thursday.

At least 538 people have died as of Sunday, according to the US-based Human Rights Watch News Agency (HRANA). According to HRANA, at least 10,600 protesters have been detained by police.

The ongoing street protests in Iran have become an international issue after US President Donald Trump supported the protests and threatened to attack the Iranian government if necessary. Trump has said that he supports the Iranian protesters and has already warned that the US will send troops if the protests are further suppressed.

Following Trump's warning, Iran also threatened to attack US and Israeli military bases. Iran could not hold back Trump's warning for long, after he appeared excited after the recent 'kidnapping-style' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran is ready to talk to the US regarding the Iranian protests. He said, 'Iran is ready for dialogue and for war.'

President Trump has also confirmed that the Iranian leadership wants to talk to the US regarding the ongoing protests in the country. He said that the Iranian leadership is trying to talk after the US warned of military intervention. 'They have said they will talk,' Trump said on Sunday night while talking to reporters on Air Force One, 'but we may have to take some action before we talk.'

He said that the US is considering military intervention and possible options. 'It looks like some civilians have been killed, who should not be killed. If you consider them leaders, they are violent, they rule only by force of violence, I don't know, but we are looking at it seriously,' Trump told reporters on Air Force One, 'Our military is monitoring this development, the administration is considering possible military options for intervention, and it will be decided soon.'

Earlier, Iran had warned of retaliatory attacks if there is any intervention from the US. Foreign Minister Araghchi accused Iran of being provoked by foreign forces and claimed that it has now been brought under control.

Claiming that Iran has a video of weapons being distributed to protesters, Araghchi also said that the government will soon make public the statements made to the detained protesters. In addition, he also said that internet service will be restored in the country soon. Informing that the government is coordinating with the security forces for this, he said that connectivity will also be opened in government agencies and embassies. 

Global solidarity with Iran protests

Protests have been held in various European cities including Paris, Berlin, The Hague, and London against the repression. A large number of protesters have expressed solidarity with the movement in Auckland, New Zealand, Orlando, USA, and Tokyo, Japan.

Protesters in Auckland have torn down the flag of the Islamic Republic. They were carrying a flag with a lion and sun, which was used during the monarchy (before 1979). Protesters in Tokyo have also shouted slogans in favor of former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. 

In London, a protester climbed the railing of the Iranian embassy on Saturday, tore down the flag of the Islamic Republic, and hoisted the flag of the monarchy. The internet and telephone connections have been cut off since last Thursday, making it difficult for international media and human rights organizations to find out the details of the human losses here.

Internet monitoring organization Netblocks reported that the nationwide internet service in Iran has been disrupted for more than 84 hours. Netblock also noted that protesters are using short-wave radios, telephone towers in border areas and Starlink terminals as alternatives. 

Human rights organizations have accused the Iranian regime of blocking communications to cover up the massacre of protesters. Iranian hospitals are full of injured protesters, according to doctors working there. Iran's state news agency Tasmin reported that 109 security personnel have died in the protests. However, government officials have not made public the number of protesters killed.

Photos and videos that have gone viral on social media show that the protests are turning violent. Angry protesters have vandalized and set fires in various cities. Traders in Iran began protests against price increases on December 28.

As the prices of daily necessities have skyrocketed and unemployment has increased, all sections of society are now participating in the movement. The movement, which began with a demand for economic reform, has now become the main issue of regime change. The protesters are demanding the abolition of various policies and regulations made by the religious authorities. The protesters are shouting slogans in favor of freedom and demanding an end to dictatorship. 

Who is Reza Pahlavi?

Slogans are now being raised in Iran and the outside world in favor of 65-year-old former crown prince Reza Pahlavi. The protesters are urging him to take the lead. He is the eldest son of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In 1979, after the suppression of the movement that lasted for about 

a year and three months in Iran, public anger against Shah Mohammad increased. The royal power ended on February 11, 1979, when the army refused to suppress the civilians who took to the streets. Since then, the royal family fled to Egypt and went to the United States. After the death of Shah Mohammad Reza, Reza Pahlavi was proclaimed king by exiled officials on October 31, 1980. Since then, Reza has been trying to overthrow the government in exile for the past 45 years. In recent years, he has been saying that a constitutional monarchy can be restored in Iran. He has put forward the concept of an elected king rather than a hereditary one.