Iran Crackdown: 6,159 Dead, Rial Hits Record Low as US Positions Forces

• Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests has reportedly killed at least 6,159 people, with over 42,200 arrests.
• The Iranian rial plummeted to a record low of 1.5 million to $1 amidst economic pressure and international sanctions.
• The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group arrived in the Middle East, providing the US with potential strike capabilities against Iran.
• Iranian-backed militias have signaled willingness to launch attacks, while Iran threatens to escalate regional conflict.
• A private security firm, Ambrey, assesses the US has sufficient military capability for kinetic operations, but questions justification for sustained conflict.

Why It Matters: Iran faces mounting death tolls from protests, a collapsing currency, and increased US military presence.