Iran's cities have gone quiet after weeks of unrest ended in a brutal crackdown. Tehran's streets looked largely calm on Saturday, with security forces firmly in control and no new demonstrations reported, according to reports.

Escalating Threats from Tehran

The quiet didn't extend to Iran's pulpits. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a senior hard-line cleric, used a sermon broadcast on state-run radio to call for blood. "Armed hypocrites should be put to death," he said, urging judges to impose death sentences on detained protesters.

Rights groups say Khatami branded the demonstrators as foreign agents stirring up trouble. Then he turned his attention to President Donald Trump, threatening "revenge" and vowing that Iran would meet outside pressure with force.

Trump's Warning and the Death Toll

Trump had earlier warned Iranian authorities of consequences if they killed peaceful demonstrators, and he recently thanked Iranian leaders for halting planned executions. Reports indicate officials postponed some executions in response.

The stakes are grim. Human rights groups estimate more than 3,000 people died during the protests—which would make this one of Iran's deadliest episodes in decades.

Information Blackout

Iranian officials claimed the protests damaged hundreds of mosques and medical facilities, though analysts say those figures may reflect government messaging and remain nearly impossible to verify.

A nationwide internet shutdown has choked off outside reporting. Some Iranians reportedly crossed into Turkey just to contact people abroad.

Exiled figure Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to keep resisting and called for stronger international pressure on Tehran's government. Meanwhile, leaders from Russia and Gulf nations warned Trump against military strikes, citing risks to an already volatile region.

What It Means for Markets

Middle East tensions have a habit of rattling energy markets. Stocks like Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) could see movement as the situation develops and investors weigh the possibility of supply disruptions or broader regional instability.