Mosques burnt down to the ground, banks flattened, street signs removed, and roads scratched and destroyed by tyre fires. Walking through the streets of Tehran and other major cities, the scars symbolise the largest wave of unrest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
After about three weeks of fierce clashes between security forces and protesters – much of which unfolded under a near-total internet blackout – Iran is now trying to replace anti-government scenes with organised pro-government rallies. Streets are lined with banners and billboards portraying what authorities call “victory over a foreign plot”. There are images of national flags, killed security personnel and slogans of allegiance to the Islamic Republic.
Millions took to the streets on Wednesday for the second time this week to attend funerals for more than 100 security personnel killed during the unrest, according to official figures.
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