Eyewitness accounts from the ongoing protests in Iran — where the government has imposed an internet blackout — depict intense struggle and mounting exhaustion after two weeks of turmoil.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one 35-year-old anti-government protester in Tehran told CNN demonstrators appear to be exhausted, tired of the fight amid sleepless nights. Meanwhile, phones only work inside Iran from around midday until evening.
The protester said the longevity of the demonstrations will be determined by how long participants can endure the violence and the country’s economic hardship.
“People can’t afford to be out on the streets and they’re exhausted.”
Speaking anonymously from inside Iran, another person described the intense atmosphere of the protests to CNN, reporting many injuries.
“Everywhere smells like tear gas and gunfire. A lot of people have been injured,” they said.
