The accounts suggest ordinary people going about daily life were struck down while observing or attempting to avoid demonstrations, turning streets into zones of panic and uncertainty.

Witnesses recount scenes in which security forces moved swiftly into protest areas and opened fire, leaving little distinction between demonstrators and passersby, according to testimonies shared with journalists and rights groups.

Families searching hospitals, morgues and detention centres say the lack of clear information has compounded their trauma, with many unsure whether loved ones are injured, detained or dead.

One widely cited case involves a young art student who was not participating in protests but was fatally shot while walking home near a demonstration.

Friends say he had paused briefly to watch events unfold before gunfire erupted, illustrating how quickly bystanders could become victims in the chaos. Such stories have circulated widely, reinforcing fears that simply being near a protest carried deadly risks.

Human rights organisations report that the unrest, which began as economic protests and rapidly escalated into broader political dissent, has been met with harsh tactics by authorities seeking to restore control.

Amnesty International and other groups allege that security forces used live ammunition, shotguns and metal pellets in crowded urban areas, sometimes firing from rooftops or elevated positions, increasing the danger to civilians.

The Iranian government has rejected claims of indiscriminate violence, blaming deaths on what it calls terrorists and foreign-backed agitators.

State media has broadcast images of damaged public buildings and police stations, framing the unrest as an organised campaign of destruction rather than spontaneous protests driven by public anger over economic hardship and political grievances.

Conflicting death tolls have added to the confusion, with rights groups estimating thousands of fatalities linked to the unrest, while officials provide lower but still significant figures.

Independent verification remains difficult due to restrictions on media access, internet shutdowns and limitations on communication with people inside the country, especially during the peak of violence.

International reaction has been cautious but concerned, with foreign governments and the United Nations urging restraint and respect for human rights.

Analysts say the unrest represents one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s leadership in years, as anger over economic pressures has merged with broader dissatisfaction over governance, freedoms and accountability.

For families of those killed, the political arguments offer little comfort. Many say their relatives had no intention of confronting authorities and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, underscoring the human cost of the crackdown.

As the unrest continues to shape Iran’s domestic and international standing, the stories of bystanders caught in the crossfire remain a stark reminder of how quickly instability can engulf everyday life.

Calm has returned to several major cities even as sporadic unrest and arrests continue in some regions.

Demonstrations first erupted in late December after rising inflation and economic pressure fueled public anger.

The unrest quickly evolved into one of the most serious challenges faced by Iran’s leadership in recent years.

Residents in Tehran said the capital has remained largely quiet since the beginning of the week.

They reported a strong security presence and surveillance drones patrolling key areas of the city.

Shops in the Grand Bazaar reopened and daily life appeared to resume under close monitoring.

Several residents said they had not witnessed public protests for several consecutive days.

A Norway based Iranian Kurdish rights group said protest gatherings have largely stopped since Sunday.

The group described the security environment as extremely restrictive across protest hit regions.

According to the rights group security forces have been deployed heavily in cities that saw earlier unrest.

Troop movements were also reported in locations that had not previously experienced major demonstrations.

Information from inside Iran remains limited due to internet disruptions and restrictions on media access.

This has made independent verification of events difficult for outside observers.

In northern cities near the Caspian Sea residents also reported calm streets and limited movement.

People declined to give their names citing fear of reprisals from authorities.

Despite the apparent lull reports of isolated unrest have continued to surface.

The rights group said a female nurse was killed by direct gunfire during protests in Karaj.

That report could not be independently verified but has heightened concerns over the use of force.

State affiliated media acknowledged incidents of violence including arson attacks on public buildings.

One such incident involved a local education office being set on fire in central Isfahan province.

Officials described those involved as rioters and vowed continued security operations.

In Iran’s northwest where Kurdish communities are concentrated sporadic demonstrations were still reported.

An elderly resident said protests were smaller and less intense than earlier clashes.

She described earlier scenes of violence as unprecedented in her lifetime.

Fear and exhaustion were cited as reasons many protesters have stayed off the streets.

International pressure has also played a role in recent developments.

Concerns of possible foreign military intervention briefly escalated tensions this week.

U.S. President Donald Trump had warned of grave consequences if killings continued.

Those fears eased after signals that the intensity of the crackdown had reduced.

White House officials said the situation was being closely monitored.

They also said hundreds of scheduled executions had reportedly been halted.

Regional allies including Gulf states engaged in urgent diplomacy to avoid escalation.

They warned that military conflict would destabilize the wider Middle East region.

Iran’s economy remains under severe strain due to long standing sanctions.

Rising prices and unemployment continue to fuel public frustration beneath the surface.

Analysts say the calm may be temporary rather than a full resolution.

Underlying grievances remain unresolved despite the visible security clampdown.

Human rights groups have urged transparency and restraint from authorities.

They have also called for accountability over deaths and arrests during protests.

For now streets remain quieter but tension lingers across the country.

Many Iranians fear renewed unrest could erupt if economic conditions worsen.

In an open letter circulating widely across Persian-language media platforms, the signatories warned that the Iranian state’s deportation campaign is not just a legal measure, but a humanitarian crisis in the making.

“We are well aware that the phrase ‘deportation of illegal migrants’ is a euphemism for inhumane treatment of all migrants—both legal and illegal,” the statement read.

The crackdown has reportedly expanded beyond previous justifications such as rising unemployment. Since the 12-day military engagement with Israel, Tehran has shifted to new allegations—accusing Afghan residents of being part of “espionage networks” and “infiltration cells” allegedly tied to foreign powers.

According to Afghanistan International, security forces have been seizing mobile phones from Afghan nationals in cities across Iran, under suspicions of “communication with Israel.” Many migrants, including those holding valid legal status, now fear travel within the country, citing random checkpoint interrogations and arrests.

Iran’s Interior Minister announced on Wednesday that over 400,000 foreign nationals have been deported in the past four months alone—an alarming figure that has drawn sharp criticism from regional observers and humanitarian groups.

“The injustice currently being inflicted on Afghans and other voiceless minorities is, above all, a betrayal of the core values we uphold—humanity, justice, and freedom,” the letter added.

Prominent Iranian dissidents and public figures are among those backing the initiative. Acclaimed actress Taraneh Alidoosti, journalist Lili Farhadpour, and human rights lawyer Mehrangiz Kar have lent their names to the growing outcry.

While Iran has long hosted one of the world’s largest populations of Afghan refugees, this latest phase signals a hardening stance by authorities—one that critics say reflects Tehran’s growing tendency to link internal ethnic and migrant issues to its external geopolitical rivalries.

Human rights organizations are urging the international community to pressure Tehran to comply with its obligations under international refugee law and halt what they describe as a state-sanctioned campaign of intimidation and forced returns.