India, Jan. 12 -- Iran is at the epicentre of a dangerous, swirling, and unstable international politics maelstrom, as country-wide protests threaten to spiral out of control with a violent government cracking down. Started over economic collapse, the protests have, in fact, now become a challenge to the ruling elite. Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been rounded up, as international concerns have escalated in Washington, where President Donald Trump sits ready to take action.

Tehran declared three days of national mourning, identifying those who were killed in the protests as "martyrs" who sacrificed their lives in defense against foreign-backed subversion. State television broadcastfunerals for security forces who died, as ...