A Deadly Crackdown in Iran

<p>Behind the curtain of an internet blackout, the Islamic Republic’s security forces have killed at least 180 unarmed protesters. </p><p>Natalie Kitroeff speaks to Farnaz Fassihi about Iran’s deadliest political unrest in decades and why the United States wanted that unrest — and has helped fuel it. </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/search?query=farnaz+fassihi?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">Farnaz Fassihi</a>, a reporter covering Iran for The New York Times, in conversation with<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/natalie-kitroeff?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> Natalie Kitroeff</a>. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. </p><p>Background reading:</p><ul><li>How a peaceful protest over fuel prices<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/01/world/middleeast/iran-protests-deaths.html?searchResultPosition=4?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> quickly evolved into nationwide demonstrations</a> against the Islamic Republic and its leaders, unrest which scores of people would not survive.</li><li>After the United States<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/26/world/middleeast/iran-protests-crackdown.html?searchResultPosition=1?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> condemned the extrajudicial killings</a>, Iran pointed to the rebuke as evidence that the demonstrations were backed by Western enemies. </li></ul>