Iran protests almost subside after brutal crackdown - Reuters

A deadly crackdown in Iran has almost completely crushed protests that had swept the country until recently, Reuters reported on Friday, citing a human rights group.

According to the publication, drone activity has been observed over Iran, which has not recorded any protest activity since Thursday, January 15. The Iranian-Kurdish human rights group Hengaw said that although there were no gatherings, "the security environment remains very restrictive."

"Our independent sources confirm a significant military and police presence in cities and towns where protests had previously taken place, as well as in several places where there had been no large-scale demonstrations," the group said in comments to Reuters.

Iran's state-run Press TV quoted Iran's police chief as saying that "calm has been restored throughout the country."

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on January 13, US President Donald Trump addressed the people of Iran and urged them to continue the protests and seize government buildings.

On January 9, the eldest son of the Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza, who was overthrown in 1979 by Islamic fundamentalists led by Ayatollah Khomeini, Reza Pahlavi Kiir, asked US President Donald Trump to intervene and help the protesters.

On January 7, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) announced the seizure of the cities of Abdanan and Malekshahi.