ESCALATING

Iran Protests Turn Deadly as Gov’t Vows to Crack Down

Authorities warn demonstrators will “pay the price” after two people were killed in clashes late Saturday.

Iranian authorities have warned protesters will “pay the price” after two people were killed and dozens arrested during a third night of unrest. “Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behavior and pay the price,” Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television. “The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted,” he said. His comments came after two protesters were killed in Lorestan province late Saturday during clashes with security forces. Habibollah Khojastepour, the security deputy of Lorestan’s governor, confirmed the deaths but stopped short of placing blame on security forces, saying “no bullets were shot from police and security forces at the people.” He did not provide details on how the demonstrators were killed. The protests erupted in Masshad on Thursday over economic policies but have since spread to multiple cities and evolved into anti-government rallies. By Sunday, authorities had blocked access to Instagram and the popular messaging app Telegram.