As protests in Iran entered their second week, medical professionals at hospitals in Tehran reported being overwhelmed with patients suffering injuries sustained during the demonstrations. A doctor at a Tehran eye hospital described the facility entering "crisis mode" due to the influx of patients, while a medic at another hospital communicated that they lacked sufficient surgeons to manage the volume of cases.

The accounts from medical personnel, obtained by the BBC, painted a picture of strained resources and a healthcare system struggling to cope with the consequences of the ongoing unrest. The specific types of injuries overwhelming the hospitals were not detailed, but the sheer number of patients requiring immediate care was placing immense pressure on medical staff and facilities.

The protests, triggered by a variety of grievances, have spread across dozens of Iranian cities. Human rights groups have estimated that at least 50 protesters have been killed in the clashes. The Iranian government, in a letter to the UN Security Council, blamed the United States for escalating the protests into what it characterized as "violent subversive acts and widespread vandalism."

International leaders have called for the protection of the right to peaceful protest. The situation remains tense, with the potential for further escalation and continued strain on Iran's healthcare infrastructure. The BBC and most other international news organizations are barred from reporting directly from inside Iran, making independent verification of casualty figures and the extent of hospital overload difficult.