I saw it with my own eyes - they fired directly into lines of protesters, and people fell where they stood. Omid, a protester in his early 40s, shared his harrowing account of recent protests in Iran, demonstrating the desperate fight against an oppressive regime amid worsening economic conditions. Eyewitness testimonies collected by BBC Persian reveal widespread violence, with security forces allegedly employing lethal force against unarmed protestors, leaving many dead. As the government restricts internet access, the truth of the rising death toll is becoming harder to unveil, and humanitarian organizations report extremely high casualties. "text": "The crackdowns appear to have intensified after calls for protest from Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last Shah. Eyewitnesses describe conditions inside Iran as almost unrecognizable—a battlefield where civilians chant in fear of reprisal and security forces act with impunity. The regime has continued to respond with claims of foreign interference, while human rights groups document staggering loss of life. Local medics report overwhelming pressure on hospitals strained with victims of the violence, as large numbers of bodies are buried quickly, leaving families in despair."