Iran Vows Death Penalty for Protesters, Intensifies Crackdown Amid Mass Unrest

• Iran's Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad declared that protesting is a capital offense, labeling demonstrators as "enemies of God."
• Mass demonstrations have entered their second week, challenging Iran's theocratic authorities since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
• An internet shutdown and disruption of phone services make independent assessment difficult; rights groups report at least 65 killed and 2,300 arrested.
• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei indicated tougher measures are imminent, blaming the United States for the unrest.
• Protests, initially sparked by the collapse of the Iranian rial, have escalated into direct challenges against the government.

Why It Matters: Iran escalates its crackdown on widespread protests, threatening death penalty for demonstrators amid internet blackouts.