Iran escalates brutal crackdown on protesters Transcript

Norah: (00:00)
We want to turn back overseas to Iran, where anti-government protests are now targeting the lifeblood of Iran’s economy: That’s oil and gas production. The protests, now in their fourth week, were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. CBS’s Roxana Saberi is following this closely, and we want to warn you: This report includes some disturbing pictures.

Roxana Saberi: (00:22)
For the first time since the nationwide protest began, some oil and gas workers joined in today, putting a key source of income for the Islamic regime at risk. As college students chanted slogans like, “Cannons, guns and tanks are no longer working,” activists say security forces are getting more brutal, allegedly killing this driver for simply honking in support of the rallies.

Roxana Saberi: (00:51)
An Iranian doctor told CBS News, on condition of anonymity, many injured protestors fear going to hospitals, because there, some have been detained. So he treats them at their homes, despite threats to himself. Another doctor in New York says many wounded Iranians are sending him photos like these, desperate for his advice.

Speaker 3: (01:13)
All of a sudden, I see a picture of someone’s leg bleeding, and they’re waiting for my response.

Roxana Saberi: (01:19)
That must be really disturbing.

Speaker 3: (01:22)
The things I do in a hospital, I’m doing on Instagram with a patient’s family and hoping that somebody comes in and help. It’s just a horrible situation.

Roxana Saberi: (01:31)
Despite the risks, resistance is spreading. Hackers interrupted state-run TV with the message, “Join us and stand up,” and more women are breaking the law by casting off their head scarves. One human rights group says at least 185 protestors have been killed by security forces in Iran so far, and that several of the victims are children. Norah?

Norah: (01:57)
Roxana Saberi, thank you.