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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned the United States that their forces are on high alert amid nationwide protests, even as President Donald Trump said Washington is keeping military pressure while remaining open to talks.

Iran warns 'finger on trigger' as Trump says Tehran wants talks

Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Guards warned the United States that their forces are on high alert amid nationwide protests, even as President Donald Trump said Washington is keeping military pressure while remaining open to talks.

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned Washington Thursday that the force had its "finger on the trigger" in the wake of mass protests, as US President Donald Trump said Tehran still appeared interested in talks.
Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against Iran after Washington backed and joined Israel's 12-day war in June aimed at degrading Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
Trump said Thursday a US naval "armada" was heading toward the Gulf, adding: "We're watching Iran."
A fortnight of protests starting in late December shook Iran's clerical leadership under supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the movement has petered out in the face of a crackdown that activists say killed thousands, accompanied by an unprecedented internet blackout.
The prospect of immediate American action against Tehran appears to have receded, with both sides insisting on giving diplomacy a chance.
On his way back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump told reporters on Air Force One the United States was sending a "massive fleet" toward Iran "just in case."
"I'd rather not see anything happen but we're watching them very closely," he added.
In a standoff marked by seesawing rhetoric, Trump had on Tuesday warned Iran's leaders the United States would "wipe them off the face of this Earth" if there was any attack on his life in response to a strike targeting Khamenei.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a speech Thursday accused the United States and Israel of stoking the protests as a "cowardly revenge... for the defeat in the 12-Day War".
 - 'Legitimate targets' -
Guards commander General Mohammad Pakpour warned Israel and the United States "to avoid any miscalculations, by learning from historical experiences and what they learned in the 12-day imposed war, so that they do not face a more painful and regrettable fate".
"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and dear Iran have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders and measures of the supreme commander-in-chief," he said.
Pakpour's comments came in a written statement quoted by state television marking the national day in Iran to celebrate the Guards, whose mission is to protect the 1979 Islamic revolution from internal and external threats.
Activists accuse the Guards of playing a frontline role in the deadly crackdown on protests.
The group is sanctioned as a terrorist entity by countries including Australia, Canada and the United States, and campaigners have long urged similar moves from the EU and UK.
Another senior military figure, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi who leads the Iranian joint command headquarters, meanwhile warned that if America attacked, "all US interests, bases and centres of influence" would be "legitimate targets" for Iran's armed forces.
 - Real toll? -
Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities on Wednesday said 3,117 people were killed.
The statement from Iran's foundation for martyrs and veterans sought to draw a distinction between "martyrs", members of security forces or innocent bystanders, and what it called US-backed "rioters".
Of its toll of 3,117, it said 2,427 people were "martyrs".
Pezeshkian said Thursday that protest "is the natural right of citizens", but a distinction had to be drawn between protesters "whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people".
However, rights groups say the heavy toll was caused by security forces firing directly on protesters and that the actual number of dead could be far higher, even more than 20,000.
Efforts to confirm the scale of the toll have been hampered by the national internet shutdown, with monitor Netblocks saying Thursday the blackout had surpassed "two full weeks".
"All the evidence gradually emerging from inside Iran shows that the real number of people killed in the protests is far higher than the official figure," said the director of the Iran Human Rights NGO Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, saying the authorities' toll has "no credibility whatsoever".
Warning that their own current tolls do not reflect the true number of fatalities, IHR says it has verified at least 3,428 killings. Another NGO, US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), has documented 4,902 deaths.
According to HRANA, at least 26,541 people have been arrested. On Thursday alone, state TV announced over 200 more arrests in provinces including Kermanshah in the west and Isfahan in central Iran.

US President Donald Trump says a US naval armada is heading toward the Gulf to keep pressure on Iran, even as he downplays the likelihood of immediate military action.

Trump says US still watching Iran, fleet sailing to region

US President Donald Trump says a US naval armada is heading toward the Gulf to keep pressure on Iran, even as he downplays the likelihood of immediate military action.

President Donald Trump said Thursday a US naval "armada" was heading toward the Gulf, maintaining pressure on Iran although he has recently downplayed the prospect of imminent military action.
Last week, Trump pulled back from a threat to strike Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests after the White House said Tehran had halted planned executions of demonstrators.
But the Republican president on Thursday confirmed continuing military preparations. US media have reported in the past week that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was ordered from maneuvers in the South China Sea to the Middle East.
"We're watching Iran," Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"You know we have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case... We have a big force going toward Iran," the president said.
"I'd rather not see anything happen but we're watching them very closely."
He described the force as "an armada" and "massive fleet," but added, "maybe we won't have to use it."
Trump reiterated that his threat to use force against Tehran had stopped 837 hangings of protesters. He also confirmed he was open to talking with Iran.
Iranian authorities on Wednesday gave their first official toll from the protests -- which appear to have ebbed in recent days -- saying 3,117 people were killed. Rights groups say the actual number of dead could be far higher.
Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against Iran after Washington backed and joined Israel's 12-day war in June aimed at degrading the Islamic republic's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The United States said Iran halted 800 planned executions of protesters following warnings from President Donald Trump, as Gulf allies worked to prevent US military action against Tehran.

US says Iran halted 800 protester executions after Trump pressure

The United States said Iran halted 800 planned executions of protesters following warnings from President Donald Trump, as Gulf allies worked to prevent US military action against Tehran.

The United States on Thursday said Iran halted 800 executions of protesters under pressure from President Donald Trump, after Gulf allies appeared to pull him back from military action over Tehran's deadly crackdown on demonstrations.
Iran was shaken over the last week by some of the biggest anti-government protests in the history of the Islamic republic, although the demonstrations appear to have diminished over the last few days in the face of repression and a week-long internet blackout.
While Washington has stepped back from military action, the White House said Thursday that "all options remain on the table for the president".
"The president understands today that 800 executions that were scheduled and supposed to take place yesterday were halted," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
She said Trump had warned Tehran of "grave consequences" if the killing of demonstrators continued.
The Treasury also announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials on Thursday, with Tehran already under crippling restrictions over its nuclear programme that contributed to the economic woes that sparked protests.
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said on Wednesday that Iranian security forces had killed at least 3,428 protesters, warning that the final toll would be far higher.
Trump had said Wednesday he had received assurances from "very important sources on the other side" that executions would not go ahead, as Gulf allies scrambled to pull him back from military action.
With the belligerent rhetoric on all sides appearing to tone down for now, a senior Saudi official told AFP on Thursday that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman led efforts to talk Trump out of an attack, fearing "grave blowbacks in the region".
The Gulf trio "led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention", the official said on condition of anonymity.
A second Gulf official confirmed the talks, adding that a message was also conveyed to Iran that attacking US regional facilities would "have consequences".
Asked about a New York Times report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Trump against strikes, Leavitt said: "Look, it's true that the president spoke with (him), but I would never give details about their conversation without... the express approval by the president himself."
Iranian authorities have lashed out at "rioters" who they claim were backed by Israel and the US, vowing fast-track justice that activists fear will translate into a spree of executions.
 - 'No hanging today' -
In telephone talks on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan that Iran would defend itself "against any foreign threat", according to a statement.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia informed Iran it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to attack the country, two sources close to the kingdom's government told AFP.
The Swiss foreign ministry, which represents US interests in Iran, said Iranian security chief Ali Larijani spoke by phone on Wednesday to senior Swiss diplomat Gabriel Luechinger.
Bern offered to "contribute to the de-escalation of the current situation", the ministry said.
Later on Thursday the country summoned Iran's ambassador to voice its "greatest concern" over the crackdown on nationwide protests, a foreign ministry official said.
The developments came hours ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Iran later on Thursday, which was requested by the US.
Up until Wednesday, the United States was threatening military action against Iran should it carry out the death penalty against people arrested over the protests.
Attention had focused on protester Erfan Soltani, 26, in prison in Karaj outside Tehran since his arrest, and who rights groups said was due to be executed on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Iranian judiciary said Soltani has "not been sentenced to death" and was facing charges of propaganda against Iran's Islamic system.
If he is convicted, "the punishment, according to the law, will be imprisonment".
In an interview with US network Fox News, Araghchi said there would be "no hanging today or tomorrow".
Commenting on Truth Social, Trump said: "This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!"
 - 'Significant cost' -
Araghchi said the Iranian government was "in full control" and reported an atmosphere of calm after what he called three days of "terrorist operation".
Despite the internet shutdown, new videos from the height of the protests, with locations verified by AFP, showed bodies lined up in the Kahrizak morgue south of Tehran, as distraught relatives searched for loved ones.
Another video circulating on social media, said to be from Wednesday, showed people gathered for the funeral of a labourer killed during the protests chanting "Death to Khamenei" and "this year Seyyed Ali (Khamenei) will be overthrown".
AFP was able to verify the location of the video as Abdanan in the western province of Ilam, but not its date.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government confirmed on Thursday that one of its citizens was killed in the protest.
The unnamed Canadian "died at the hands of the Iranian authorities", Foreign Minister Anita Anand said.

Iran shut its airspace for over four hours without explanation, causing international flight rerouting as tensions rise with the US over a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.

Iran further extends order closing its airspace to commercial aircraft as tensions remain high

Iran shut its airspace for over four hours without explanation, causing international flight rerouting as tensions rise with the US over a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.

Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for hours without explanation early Thursday as tensions remained high with the United States over Tehran's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.
The closure ran for over four hours, according to pilot guidance issued by Iran, which lies on a key East-West flight route. International carriers diverted north and south around Iran, but after one extension, the closure appeared to have expired and several domestic flights were in the air just after 7 a.m.
Iran previously shut its airspace during the 12-day war against Israel in June and when it exchanged fire with Israel during the Israel-Hamas war. However, there were no signs of current hostilities, though the closure immediately rippled through global aviation because Iran is located on a key East-West route for airlines.
&ldquo;Several airlines have already reduced or suspended services, and most carriers are avoiding Iranian airspace,&rdquo; said the website SafeAirspace, which provides information on conflict areas and air travel. &ldquo;The situation may signal further security or military activity, including the risk of missile launches or heightened air defense, increasing the risk of misidentification of civil traffic.&rdquo;
Iran in the past has misidentified a commercial aircraft as a hostile target. In 2020, Iranian air defense shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 with two surface-to-air missiles, killing all 176 people on board. Iran for days adamantly dismissed allegations of downing the plane as Western propaganda before finally acknowledging it.
The airspace closure came as some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait also ordered its personnel to &ldquo;temporary halt&rdquo; going to the multiple military bases in the small Gulf Arab country.
U.S. President Donald Trump made a series of vague statements Wednesday that left unclear what American action, if any, would take place against Iran.
In comments to reporters, Trump said he had been told that plans for executions in Iran have stopped, without providing many details. The shift comes a day after Trump told protesters in Iran that &ldquo;help is on the way&rdquo; and that his administration would &ldquo;act accordingly&rdquo; to respond to the Islamic Republic's deadly crackdown.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also sought to tone down the rhetoric, urging the U.S. to find a solution through negotiation. Asked by Fox News what he would say to Trump, Araghchi said: &ldquo;My message is: Between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is a better way, although we don't have any positive experience from the United States. But still diplomacy is much better than war.&rdquo;
The change in tone by the U.S. and Iran came hours after the chief of the Iranian judiciary said the government must act quickly to punish the thousands who have been detained. Activists warned that hangings of detainees could come soon.
The security forces' crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,615, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet report delays and cancellations as Iranian airspace remains closed amid nationwide unrest, with passengers advised to check flight status and rebooking options.

International flights from India face delays due to Iran airspace closure, airline issue advisories

Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet report delays and cancellations as Iranian airspace remains closed amid nationwide unrest, with passengers advised to check flight status and rebooking options.

International flights from India are experiencing delays and rerouting due to the closure of Iranian airspace amid escalating unrest in the country.&nbsp;
Airlines have issued advisories urging passengers to stay updated on flight statuses and prepare for potential cancellations where rerouting is not feasible.
On Thursday, Air India informed travelers about the situation, stating:
"Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays. Some Air India flights where currently rerouting is not possible are being cancelled."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TravelAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TravelAdvisory</a> Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays. Some Air India flights where&hellip;
&mdash; Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/2011589617351610676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The national carrier further requested passengers to monitor flight updates before leaving for airports. "We request passengers to check the status of their flights on our website https://t.co/zsIzqUy58u before heading to the airport. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen disruption. Safety of our passengers and crew remain top priority," the advisory added.
IndiGo also confirmed that the airspace closure had affected some of its international operations and assured passengers of support and alternative arrangements. In its advisory, the airline said: "Due to the sudden airspace closure by Iran, some of our international flights are impacted. Our teams are working diligently to assess the situation and support affected customers by offering the best possible alternatives."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Travel Advisory Due to the sudden airspace closure by Iran, some of our international flights are impacted. Our teams are working diligently to assess the situation and support affected customers by offering the best possible alternatives. This development is beyond our&hellip;
&mdash; IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/2011573887751061775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The airline encouraged passengers to explore flexible rebooking or request refunds, noting: "This development is beyond our control, and we regret the disruption it may have caused to your travel plans. If your flight is impacted, we encourage you to visit our website to explore flexible rebooking options or to claim a refund, as per your preference. We remain committed to keeping you informed and supporting you through this evolving situation. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding."
Similarly, SpiceJet advised passengers to confirm the status of their flights through the airline&rsquo;s website or 24/7 reservation helpline numbers: "Due to airspace closure in Iran, some of our flights may be affected. Passengers are advised to check their flight status at https://t.co/2wynECZugy &nbsp;or contact our 247 Reservation Helpline numbers at +91 (0)124 4983410 or +91 (0)124 7101600 for assistance,"* the advisory stated.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TravelUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TravelUpdate</a>: Due to airspace closure in Iran, some of our flights may be affected. Passengers are advised to check their flight status at <a href="https://t.co/2wynECZugy">https://t.co/2wynECZugy</a> or contact our 24*7 Reservation Helpline numbers at +91 (0)124 4983410 or +91 (0)124 7101600 for assistance.
&mdash; SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) <a href="https://twitter.com/flyspicejet/status/2011608578919104707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Earlier, on January 5, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a travel advisory urging Indian nationals to exercise caution in Iran amid ongoing protests. The MEA stated: "In view of recent developments, Indian nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran until further notice."
For those already in Iran, the MEA outlined precautions: "Indian citizens and PIOs currently in Iran should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, and closely monitor news as well as the website and social media handles of the Embassy of India in Tehran."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Travel Advisory for Iran ⬇️ 🔗 <a href="https://t.co/O92nERv37c">https://t.co/O92nERv37c</a> <a href="https://t.co/kSmSpDqbOj">pic.twitter.com/kSmSpDqbOj</a>
&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/2008179279377711573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The ministry also advised Indian residents in Iran to ensure they are registered with the Indian mission: "Indian nationals living in Iran on resident visas are advised to register with the Indian Embassy, if not already done so."
The travel advisories follow reports of sporadic protests across Tehran and several other Iranian cities, with clashes intensifying particularly in western regions. The demonstrations, which began in late December, initially involved strikes by shopkeepers over economic grievances before expanding to broader political demands, according to Al Jazeera.
What started as protests over rising inflation and the steep decline of Iran&rsquo;s currency has now escalated into widespread unrest, with agitation reported in more than 280 locations across the country.

Parents of Kashmiri students in Iran have appealed to the Indian government for urgent evacuation amid escalating protests and internet shutdowns, citing safety concerns for over 10,000 Indians in the country.

Bring our children back: Parents of Kashmiri students in Iran appeal to Centre

Parents of Kashmiri students in Iran have appealed to the Indian government for urgent evacuation amid escalating protests and internet shutdowns, citing safety concerns for over 10,000 Indians in the country.

The parents of Kashmiri students currently studying in Iran have appealed to the Centre to bring their children back amid ongoing tensions in the country.
Scores of concerned parents gathered at the Press Enclave in Srinagar, urging the government to intervene.
"We appeal to the prime minister, the external affairs minister, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and the lieutenant governor to evacuate the students from Iran," a parent told reporters here on Wednesday.
He expressed confidence in the government's ability to conduct an evacuation, recalling previous successful operations in countries like Ukraine and Iran. "We are grateful for the support the Centre has provided to students in the past. We are sure the government will not let the situation reach a point when the children get harmed and can facilitate their departure quickly," he added.
The parents claimed that the Indian Embassy in Tehran had advised the students to leave the country on their own. "They are asking the students to contact their parents and arrange their travel independently. We can connect to our children through ISD calls, but with great difficulty, and we urge the authorities at both the Union Territory and the Centre to help facilitate their evacuation," he mentioned further.
In a fresh advisory, the Indian embassy in Tehran has urged all Indians, including students, pilgrims, business persons, and tourists, to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights.
According to estimates, a little over 10,000 Indians, including students, are currently living in Iran.
Another distressed parent sought immediate government action, saying, "We are very worried and need the government to undertake the evacuation as they did previously."
The mother of one student emphasised the difficulty parents are facing in sending travel tickets due to an internet shutdown in Iran. "I urge the government to remove the students from there. Even if we book tickets for them, we cannot send them because of the internet blockade. It is nearly impossible for them. They should be evacuated as soon as possible," she said.
The protests began late last month in Tehran after the Iranian currency rial plunged to record lows. The protests have since spread to all 31 provinces, evolving from an agitation against economic woes to a demand for political change.
The overall situation in the country in the last few days has deteriorated dramatically as the death toll from the nationwide protests has increased to over 2,500, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

US President Donald Trump said killings and executions in Iran have reportedly stopped amid protests, though he left the possibility of military action open, as global concern mounts over repression and human rights abuses.

Trump says Iran killings stopped, Tehran says 'no plan for hanging'

US President Donald Trump said killings and executions in Iran have reportedly stopped amid protests, though he left the possibility of military action open, as global concern mounts over repression and human rights abuses.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had been told the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, but added that he would "watch it and see" about threatened military action.
Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming to the aid of the Iranian people over the crackdown on protests that rights groups say has left at least 3,428 people dead.
But in a surprise announcement at the White House, Trump said he had now received assurances from "very important sources on the other side" that Tehran had now stopped, and that executions would not go ahead.
"They've said the killing has stopped and the executions won't take place -- there were supposed to be a lot of executions today and that the executions won't take place -- and we're going to find out," Trump said.
He offered no details and noted that the United States had yet to verify the claims.
Asked by an AFP reporter in the Oval Office if US military action was now off the table, Trump replied: "We're going to watch it and see what the process is."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later said there would be "no hanging today or tomorrow," in an interview with US network Fox News, while accusing Israel of orchestrating violence, without providing evidence.
Araghchi contends the peaceful protests about economic hardship that began December 28 devolved into widespread violence between January 7 and 10 because the protests were infiltrated by external "elements who had a plan to create a big number of killings in order to provoke President Trump to enter into this conflict and start a new war against Iran."
Iran's Minister of Justice Amin Hossein Rahimi echoed that allegation, telling state news agencies that after January 7, "those weren't protests any longer" and anyone who was arrested on the streets then "was definitely a criminal."
A rights group said separately that the execution of an Iranian man arrested during the wave of protests, 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, would not take place as scheduled on Wednesday, citing relatives.
Late Wednesday, UN leadership announced a meeting of the Security Council Thursday for "a briefing on the situation in Iran," as requested by the United States.
 - 'Full control' -
Araghchi said the Iranian government was "in full control" and reported an atmosphere of "calm" after what he called three days of "terrorist operation."
Iran also struck a defiant tone about responding to any US attack, as Washington appeared to draw down staff at a base in Qatar that Tehran targeted in a strike last year.
Iran targeted the Al Udeid base in June in retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Trump the strike showed "Iran's will and capability to respond to any attack."
Fears of possible US military action continued to rile the region.
The British government said its embassy in Tehran had been "temporarily closed," while the US embassy in Saudi Arabia urged staff to exercise caution and avoid military installations.
Germany's Lufthansa on Wednesday said its flights would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace "until further notice" after the US threats against Iran.
Trump has threatened to intervene militarily in Iran several times since the protest movement that has shaken the country began in late December. The protests are the largest since the Islamic Republic was proclaimed in 1979.
Rights monitors say that under cover of a five-day internet blackout, Iranian authorities are carrying out their harshest repression in years against demonstrations openly challenging the theocratic system.
Iran's judiciary chief vowed fast-track trials for those arrested, stoking fears authorities will use capital punishment as a tool of repression.
In Tehran, authorities held a funeral for more than 100 security personnel and other "martyrs" killed in the unrest, which officials have branded "acts of terror."
 - 'Unprecedented level of brutality' -
G7 nations said Wednesday they were "deeply alarmed at the high level of reported deaths and injuries" and warned of further sanctions if the crackdown continued.
Monitor NetBlocks said Iran's internet blackout had lasted 144 hours. Despite the shutdown, new videos, with locations verified by AFP, showed bodies lined up in the Kahrizak morgue south of Tehran, wrapped in black bags as distraught relatives searched for loved ones.
Amnesty International accused authorities of committing mass unlawful killings "on an unprecedented scale," citing verified videos and eyewitness accounts.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War said authorities were using "an unprecedented level of brutality to suppress protests," noting reports of protest activity had sharply declined.
A senior Iranian official told journalists there had been no new "riots" since Monday, distinguishing them from earlier cost-of-living protests. "Every society can expect protests, but we will not tolerate violence," he said.
Prosecutors have said some detainees will face capital charges of "waging war against God." State media reported hundreds of arrests and the detention of a foreign national for espionage, without giving details.
Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, said security forces had killed at least 3,428 protesters and arrested more than 10,000.

Iran's judiciary signals swift trials amid protests, despite U.S. warnings. Mohseni-Ejei emphasizes urgency in handling cases, while Trump threatens action against executions.

Iran Judiciary Chief Signals Swift Trials Amid Protest Clashes

Iran's judiciary accelerates trials for detained protesters amid U.S. warnings. Mohseni-Ejei stresses urgency, warning delay could reduce the impact. This follows Trump's threat of action against executions.

Iran Judiciary Eyes Quick Trials Amid Protests

Iran&rsquo;s judiciary chief indicated rapid trials and possible executions for protest detainees, despite warnings from US President Donald Trump, raising human rights concerns.

Iran on Wednesday vowed fast-track trials for people arrested over a massive wave of protests, after US President Donald Trump threatened "very strong action" if the Islamic Republic goes ahead with hangings.
International outrage has built over a crackdown on the demonstrations, which a rights group said has likely killed thousands in one of the biggest challenges yet to Iran's clerical leadership.
Iranian authorities have insisted they have regained control of the country after successive nights of mass protests, repeatedly accusing the demonstrators of carrying out "acts of terror" of the kind committed by Islamic State.
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said on a visit to a prison holding protest detainees that "if a person burned someone, beheaded someone and set them on fire then we must do our work quickly", in comments broadcast by state television.
Iranian news agencies also quoted him as saying the trials should be held in public and said he had spent five hours in a prison in Tehran to examine the cases.
Trump on Tuesday said in a CBS News interview that the United States would act if Iran began hanging protesters.
"We will take very strong action if they do such a thing," said the American leader, who has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention.
"When they start killing thousands of people -- and now you're telling me about hanging. We'll see how that's going to work out for them," Trump said.
Tehran called the American warnings a "pretext for military intervention".
Iran's UN mission posted a statement on X, vowing that Washington's "playbook" would "fail again".
"US fantasies and policy toward Iran are rooted in regime change, with sanctions, threats, engineered unrest, and chaos serving as the modus operandi to manufacture a pretext for military intervention," the post said.
Rights groups accuse the government of fatally shooting protesters and masking the scale of the crackdown with an internet blackout imposed on January 8.
"Metrics show #Iran remains offline as the country wakes to another day of digital darkness," said internet monitor Netblocks on Wednesday in a post on X, adding that the blackout had lasted 132 hours.
Some information has trickled out of Iran however. New videos on social media, with locations verified by AFP, showed bodies lined up in the Kahrizak morgue just south of the Iranian capital, with the corpses wrapped in black bags and distraught relatives searching for loved ones.
Tehran prosecutors have said Iranian authorities would press capital charges of "waging war against God" on some detainees.
 - Calls to halt executions -
The US State Department on its Farsi language X account said 26-year-old protestor Erfan Soltani had been sentenced to be executed on Wednesday.
"Erfan is the first protester to be sentenced to death, but he won't be the last," the State Department said, adding more than 10,600 Iranians had been arrested.
Rights group Amnesty International called on Iran to immediately halt all executions, including Soltani's.
Trump urged on his Truth Social platform for Iranians to "KEEP PROTESTING", adding: "I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
It was not immediately clear what meetings he was referring to or what the nature of the help would be.
 - 'Rising casualties' -
European nations have also signalled their anger over the crackdown, with France, Germany and the United Kingdom among the countries that summoned their Iranian ambassadors, as did the European Union.
"The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying," said EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, vowing further sanctions.
Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said it had confirmed 734 people killed during the protests, including nine minors, but warned the death toll was likely far higher.
"The real number of those killed is likely in the thousands," IHR's director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said.
Iranian state media has said dozens of members of the security forces have been killed, with their funerals turning into large pro-government rallies.
Authorities in Tehran have announced a mass funeral ceremony in the capital on Wednesday for the "martyrs" of recent days.
Amir, an Iraqi computer scientist, returned to Baghdad on Monday and described dramatic scenes in Tehran.
"On Thursday night, my friends and I saw protesters in Tehran's Sarsabz neighbourhood amid a heavy military presence. The police were firing rubber bullets," he told AFP in Iraq.
Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's ousted shah, called on the military to stop suppressing protests.
"You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic," he said in a statement.
 - 'Serious challenge' -
The government has sought to regain control of the streets with nationwide rallies that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed as proof that the protest movement was defeated, calling them a "warning" to the United States.
In power since 1989 and now aged 86, Khamenei has faced significant challenges, most recently the 12-day war in June against Israel, which forced him to go into hiding.
Analysts have cautioned that it is premature to predict the immediate demise of the theocratic system, pointing to the repressive levers the leadership controls, including the Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is charged with safeguarding the Islamic revolution.
Nicole Grajewski, professor at the Sciences Po Centre for International Studies, told AFP the protests represented a "serious challenge" to the Islamic republic, but it was unclear if they would unseat the leadership, pointing to "the sheer depth and resilience of Iran's repressive apparatus".

US President Donald Trump warns Iran of strong action over threatened hangings of protesters as rights groups allege thousands killed and Europe signals sanctions.

Trump warns of 'very strong action' if Iran hangs protesters

US President Donald Trump warns Iran of strong action over threatened hangings of protesters as rights groups allege thousands killed and Europe signals sanctions.

US President Donald Trump warned of unspecified "very strong action" if Iranian authorities go ahead with threatened hangings of some protesters, with Tehran calling American warnings a "pretext for military intervention".
International outrage has built over the crackdown that a rights group said has likely killed thousands during protests posing one of the biggest challenges yet to Iran's clerical leadership.
Iran's UN mission posted a statement on X, vowing that Washington's "playbook" would "fail again".
"US fantasies and policy toward Iran are rooted in regime change, with sanctions, threats, engineered unrest, and chaos serving as the modus operandi to manufacture a pretext for military intervention," the post said.
Iranian authorities have insisted they had regained control of the country after successive nights of mass protests nationwide since.
Rights groups accuse the government of fatally shooting protesters and masking the scale of the crackdown with an internet blackout that has now surpassed the five-day mark.
New videos on social media, with locations verified by AFP, showed bodies lined up in the Kahrizak morgue just south of the Iranian capital, with the corpses wrapped in black bags and distraught relatives searching for loved ones.
Trump -- who earlier told the protesters in Iran that "help is on its way" -- said Tuesday in a CBS News interview that the United States would act if Iran began hanging protesters.
Tehran prosecutors have said Iranian authorities would press capital charges of "moharebeh", or "waging war against God", against some suspects arrested over recent demonstrations.
"We will take very strong action if they do such a thing," said the American leader, who has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention.
"When they start killing thousands of people -- and now you're telling me about hanging. We'll see how that's going to work out for them," Trump said.
The US State Department on its Farsi language X account said 26-year-old protestor Erfan Soltani had been sentenced to be executed on Wednesday.
"Erfan is the first protester to be sentenced to death, but he won't be the last," the State Department said, adding more than 10,600 Iranians had been arrested.
Rights group Amnesty International called on Iran to immediately halt all executions, including Soltani's.
Trump urged on his Truth Social platform for Iranians to "KEEP PROTESTING", adding: "I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
It was not immediately clear what meetings he was referring to or what the nature of the help would be.
 - 'Rising casualties' -
European nations also signalled their anger over the crackdown, with France, Germany and the United Kingdom among the countries that summoned their Iranian ambassadors, as did the European Union.
"The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying," said EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, vowing further sanctions against those responsible.
Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said it had confirmed 734 people killed during the protests, including nine minors, but warned the death toll was likely far higher.
"The real number of those killed is likely in the thousands," IHR's director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said.
Iranian state media has said dozens of members of the security forces have been killed, with their funerals turning into large pro-government rallies.
Authorities in Tehran have announced a mass funeral ceremony in the capital on Wednesday for the "martyrs" of recent days.
Amir, an Iraqi computer scientist, returned to Baghdad on Monday and described dramatic scenes in Tehran.
"On Thursday night, my friends and I saw protesters in Tehran's Sarsabz neighbourhood amid a heavy military presence. The police were firing rubber bullets," he told AFP in Iraq.
Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's ousted shah, called on the military to stop suppressing protests.
"You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic," he said in a statement.
 - 'Serious challenge -
The government on Monday sought to regain control of the streets with mass nationwide rallies that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed as proof that the protest movement was defeated, calling them a "warning" to the United States.
In power since 1989 and now aged 86, Khamenei has faced significant challenges, most recently the 12-day war in June against Israel, which forced him to go into hiding.
Analysts have cautioned that it is premature to predict the immediate demise of the theocratic system, pointing to the repressive levers the leadership controls, including the Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is charged with safeguarding the Islamic revolution.
Nicole Grajewski, professor at the Sciences Po Centre for International Studies, told AFP the protests represented a "serious challenge" to the Islamic republic, but it was unclear if they would unseat the leadership, pointing to "the sheer depth and resilience of Iran's repressive apparatus".

US President Donald Trump imposes a 25% tariff on nations doing business with Iran, potentially impacting major trade partners like India, China, and the UAE, amid growing US-Iran tensions.

Trump announces 25% tariff on 'any country' trading with Iran, move could impact India, China, UAE

US President Donald Trump imposes a 25% tariff on nations doing business with Iran, potentially impacting major trade partners like India, China, and the UAE, amid growing US-Iran tensions.

US President Donald Trump announced that any country &ldquo;doing business" with Iran will have to pay a 25 per cent tariff on its trade with Washington, a move that could impact Tehran&rsquo;s major trading partners such as India, China and the UAE.
"Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25 per cent on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive,&rdquo; Trump said in a post on Truth Social Monday.
Among Iran&rsquo;s major trading partners are China, Turkey, India, the UAE, Pakistan and Armenia.
The announcement by Trump could impact India, which has been among Iran&rsquo;s five largest trade partners in recent years.
The US has already imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, among the highest in the world, including 25 per cent for Delhi&rsquo;s purchases of Russian energy.
According to the Indian Embassy in Tehran, major Indian exports to Iran include rice, tea, sugar, pharmaceuticals, manmade staple fibres, electrical machinery and artificial jewellery, while major Indian imports from Iran consist of dry fruits, inorganic/organic chemicals and glassware.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), an online data visualisation and distribution platform, exports from India to Iran in 2023 totalled 1.19 billion dollars, while imports into India totalled 1.02 billion dollars.
During 2023, the top exports from India to Iran were rice (USD 734M), Soybean Meal (USD 96.8M), and Bananas (USD 52M). Top exports from Iran to India included Acyclic alcohol derivatives (halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated) (USD 309M).
&ldquo;India and Iran share a millennia-long history of interactions. The contemporary relationship draws upon the strength of these historical and civilisational ties, and continues to grow further marked by high-level exchanges, commercial and connectivity cooperation, cultural and robust people-to-people ties,&rdquo; the Indian Embassy in Tehran has said.
A key aspect of India-Iran ties is the joint development of the Chabahar port. Located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on Iran&rsquo;s energy-rich southern coast, the Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade ties.
In May 2015, India and Iran signed an MoU on &lsquo;Partnership of India in the Development Plan of Chabahar Port&rsquo;.
This was followed by the signing of a Trilateral Agreement in May 2016 between India, Iran and Afghanistan to establish the International Transport and Transit Corridor (Chabahar Agreement).
India is participating in the development of the first phase of the Shahid Beheshti Terminal, Chabahar Port in cooperation with Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs has said.
In December 2018, an Indian company, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) through its wholly owned subsidiary, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), took over the operations of Chabahar Port.
In May 2024, IPGL signed a ten-year contract with the Ports and Maritime Organisation (PMO) of the Islamic Republic of Iran for equipping and operating the Shahid Beheshti Terminal of Chabahar Port.

US President Donald Trump says Iran’s leadership reached out to negotiate as protests intensify and rights groups warn of a growing death toll during the nationwide crackdown.

Trump says US military studying 'very strong options' for Iran

US President Donald Trump says Iran&rsquo;s leadership reached out to negotiate as protests intensify and rights groups warn of a growing death toll during the nationwide crackdown.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran's leadership had called him seeking "to negotiate" after he repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily if Tehran killed protesters.
For two weeks, Iran has been rocked by a protest movement that has swelled in spite of a crackdown rights groups warn has become a "massacre".
Initially sparked by anger over the rising cost of living, the demonstrations have evolved into a serious challenge of the theocratic system in place since the 1979 revolution.
Information has continued to trickle out of Iran despite a days-long internet shutdown, with videos filtering out of capital Tehran and other cities over the past three nights showing large demonstrations.
As reports emerge of a growing protest death toll, and images show bodies piled outside a morgue, Trump said Tehran indicated its willingness to talk.
"The leaders of Iran called" yesterday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that "a meeting is being set up... They want to negotiate."
He added, however, that "we may have to act before a meeting".
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | On the situation in Iran, US President Donald Trump says, "It looks like (the line has been crossed)... Some people, who were not supposed to be killed, have been killed... If you talk about leaders, I don't know if they are leaders or just rule through violence... But&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/TKTMi0FUAj">pic.twitter.com/TKTMi0FUAj</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2010546108125282326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said it had received "eyewitness accounts and credible reports indicating that hundreds of protesters have been killed across Iran during the current internet shutdown".
"A massacre is unfolding," it said.
The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) said it confirmed the killing of at least 192 protesters but that the actual toll could be much higher.
"Unverified reports indicate that at least several hundreds, and according to some sources, more than 2,000 people may have been killed," said IHR.
More than 2,600 protesters have been arrested, IHR estimates.
A video circulating on Sunday showed dozens of bodies accumulating outside a morgue south of Tehran.
The footage, geolocated by AFP to Kahrizak, showed bodies wrapped in black bags, with what appeared to be grieving relatives searching for loved ones.
 - Near paralysis -
In Tehran, an AFP journalist described a city in a state of near paralysis.
The price of meat has nearly doubled since the start of the protests, and many shops are closed. Those that do open must close at around 4:00 or 5:00 pm, when security forces deploy en masse.
There were fewer videos showing protests on social media Sunday, but it was not clear to what extent that was due to the internet shutdown.
One widely shared video showed protesters again gathering in the Pounak district of Tehran shouting slogans in favour of the ousted monarchy.
The protests have become one of the biggest challenges to the rule of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, coming in the wake of Israel's 12-day war against the Islamic republic in June, which was backed by the United States.
State TV has aired images of burning buildings, including a mosque, as well as funeral processions for security personnel.
But after three days of mass actions, state outlets were at pains to present a picture of calm returning, broadcasting images of smooth-flowing traffic on Sunday. Tehran Governor Mohammad-Sadegh Motamedian insisted in televised comments that "the number of protests is decreasing".
The Iranian government on Sunday declared three days of national mourning for "martyrs" including members of the security forces killed.
President Masoud Pezeshkian also urged Iranians to join a "national resistance march" Monday to denounce the violence.
In response to Trump's repeated threats to intervene, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran would hit back, calling US military and shipping "legitimate targets" in comments broadcast by state TV.
 - 'Stand with the people' -
Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's ousted shah, who has emerged as an anti-government figurehead, said he was prepared to return to the country and lead a democratic transition.
"I'm already planning on that," he told Fox News on Sunday.
He later urged Iran's security forces and government workers to join the demonstrators.
"Employees of state institutions, as well as members of the armed and security forces, have a choice: stand with the people and become allies of the nation, or choose complicity with the murderers of the people," he said in a social media post.
He also urged protesters to replace the flags outside of Iranian embassies.
"The time has come for them to be adorned with Iran's national flag," he said.
The ceremonial, pre-revolution flag has become an emblem of the global rallies that have mushroomed in support of Iran's demonstrators.
In London, protesters managed over the weekend to swap out the Iranian embassy flag, hoisting in its place the tri-colored banner used under the last shah.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic republic would not retreat despite large-scale protests over rising living costs, as demonstrations spread across major cities and authorities imposed an internet blackout.

Defiant Khamenei insists 'won't back down' in face of Iran protests

Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic republic would not retreat despite large-scale protests over rising living costs, as demonstrations spread across major cities and authorities imposed an internet blackout.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted that the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of protests after the biggest rallies yet in an almost two week movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living.
Chanting slogans including "death to the dictator" and setting fire to official buildings, crowds of people opposed to the clerical establishment marched through major cities late Thursday.
Internet monitor Netblocks said authorities had imposed a total connectivity blackout late Thursday and added early Friday that the country has "now been offline for 12 hours... in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests".
The demonstrations represent one of the biggest challenges yet to the Islamic republic in its over four-and-a half decades of existence, with protesters openly calling for an end to its theocratic rule.
But Khamenei struck a defiant tone in his first comments on the protests that have been escalating since January 3, calling the demonstrators "vandals" and "saboteurs", in a speech broadcast on state TV.
Khamenei said US President Donald Trump's hands "are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians", in apparent reference to Israel's June war against the Islamic republic which the US supported and joined with strikes of its own.
He predicted the "arrogant" US leader would be "overthrown" like the imperial dynasty that ruled Iran up to the 1979 revolution.
"Last night in Tehran, a bunch of vandals came and destroyed a building that belongs to them to please the US president," he said in an address to supporters, as men and women in the audience chanted the mantra of "death to America".
"Everyone knows the Islamic republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people, it will not back down in the face of saboteurs," he added.
Trump said late Thursday that "enthusiasm to overturn that regime is incredible" and warned that if the Iranian authorities responded by killing protesters, "we're going to hit them very hard. We're ready to do it."
 - 'Even larger' -
AFP has verified videos showing crowds of people, as well as vehicles honking in support, filling a part of the vast Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard late on Thursday.
The crowd could be heard chanting "death to the dictator" in reference to Khamenei, 86, who has ruled the Islamic republic since 1989.
Other videos showed significant protests in other cities, including Tabriz in the north and the holy city of Mashhad in the east, as well as the Kurdish-populated west of the country, including the regional hub Kermanshah.
Several videos showed protesters setting fire to the entrance to the regional branch of state television in the central city of Isfahan. It was not immediately possible to verify the images.
Flames were also seen in the governor's building in Shazand, the capital of Markazi province in central Iran, after protesters gathered outside, other videos showed.
The protests late Thursday were the biggest in Iran since 2022-2023 rallies nationwide sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic republic's strict dress code.
Rights groups have accused authorities of firing on protesters in the current demonstrations, killing dozens. However, the latest videos from Tehran did not show intervention by security forces.
The son of the shah of Iran ousted by the 1979 Islamic Revolution, US-based Reza Pahlavi, who had called for major protests Thursday, urged a new show of force in the streets on Friday.
Pahlavi, in a new video message early Friday, said Thursday's rallies showed how "a massive crowd forces the repressive forces to retreat".
He called for bigger protests Friday "to make the crowd even larger so that the regime's repressive power becomes even weaker".

Iranian protests intensify nationwide as authorities cut internet access, with at least 45 protesters killed. US President Trump warns of severe action if killings continue.

Iranians step up protests as death toll mounts, internet cut

Iranian protests intensify nationwide as authorities cut internet access, with at least 45 protesters killed. US President Trump warns of severe action if killings continue.

Iranian protesters on Thursday stepped up their challenge to the clerical leadership with the biggest protests yet of nearly two weeks of rallies, as authorities cut internet access and the death toll from a crackdown mounted.
The movement, which originated with a shutdown on the Tehran bazaar on December 28 after the rial currency plunged to record lows, has spread nationwide and is now being marked by larger-scale demonstrations, including in the capital.
The protests have troubled the authorities under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, already battling an economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering from the June war against Israel.
US President Donald Trump meanwhile threatened on Thursday to take severe action against Iran if its authorities "start killing people", warning Washington would "hit them very hard".
That message came after rights groups accused Iranian security forces of shooting at demonstrators, with the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights on Thursday saying security forces had killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, since the demonstrations began.
The NGO said Wednesday was the bloodiest day of demonstrations, with 13 protesters confirmed to have been killed.
"The evidence shows that the scope of the crackdown is becoming more violent and more extensive every day," said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, adding that hundreds more have been wounded and more than 2,000 arrested.
Iranian media and official statements have reported at least 21 people, including security forces, killed since the unrest began, according to an AFP tally.
On Wednesday an Iranian police officer was killed west of Tehran trying "to control unrest", the Fars news agency said.
Despite the crackdown, protests were again taking place into the night Thursday.
A large crowd was seen gathering on the vast Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard in the northwest of Tehran, according to social media images verified by AFP, while other images showed a crowd demonstrating in the western city of Abadan.
As protests roiled cities across the country, online watchdog Netblocks said Thursday that "live metrics show Iran is now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout".
 - 'Utmost restraint' -
With the protests now spreading across Iran, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said rallies had taken place in 348 locations in all of Iran's 31 provinces.
Reza Pahlavi, the son of the shah ousted by the 1979 Islamic revolution and a key exiled opposition figure, urged more major protests on Thursday.
Iraq-based Iranian Kurdish opposition parties called for a general strike on Thursday in Kurdish-populated areas in western Iran.
The Hengaw rights group said the call had been widely followed in some 30 towns and cities, posting footage of shuttered shops in the western provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah and Lorestan.
It accused authorities of firing on demonstrators in Kermanshah and the nearby town of Kamyaran to the north, injuring several protesters.
IHR said a woman at a protest late Wednesday in Abadan was shot directly in the eye.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday called for "utmost restraint" in handling demonstrations, saying that "any violent or coercive behaviour should be avoided".
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, meanwhile, condemned the "excessive use of force" against protesters.
In a video verified by AFP, protesters in Kuhchenar in the southern Fars province were seen cheering overnight as they pulled down a statue of the former foreign operations commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US strike in January 2020.
 - 'Unlawful force' -
Demonstrators are repeating slogans against the clerical leadership, including "Pahlavi will return" and "Seyyed Ali will be toppled", in reference to Khamenei.
The movement has also spread to higher education, with final exams Tehran's major Amir Kabir university postponed for a week, according to ISNA news agency.
The protests are the biggest in Iran since the protest wave in 2022-2023 sparked by the custody death of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women.
Rights groups have also accused authorities of resorting to tactics including raiding hospitals to detain wounded protesters.
"Iran's security forces have injured and killed both protesters and bystanders," said Amnesty International, accusing authorities of using "unlawful force".

Fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in Iran have killed at least 12 people as demonstrations over rising living costs spread across multiple provinces for a second week.

Deadly protests erupt across Iran as cost-of-living unrest deepens

Fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in Iran have killed at least 12 people as demonstrations over rising living costs spread across multiple provinces for a second week.

New deadly clashes between protesters and security forces erupted in Iran, rights groups and local media said Sunday, as demonstrations first sparked by anger over the rising cost of living entered a second week.
At least 12 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed since the protests kicked off with a shopkeepers' strike in Tehran on December 28, according to a toll based on official reports.
Overnight, protests featuring slogans criticising the Islamic republic's clerical authorities were reported in Tehran, Shiraz in the south, and in areas of western Iran where the movement has been concentrated, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) monitor.
The demonstrations are the most significant in Iran since a 2022-2023 movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women.
The latest protests have been concentrated in parts of the west with large populations of the Kurdish and Lor minorities, and have yet to reach the scale of the 2022-2023 movement, let alone the mass street demonstrations that followed disputed 2009 presidential elections.
But they do present a new challenge for supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- 86, and in power since 1989 -- coming on the heels of a 12-day war with Israel in June that saw nuclear infrastructure damaged and key members of the security elite killed.
With the government under pressure to show a response to the economic pain, spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told state TV on Sunday that citizens would receive a monthly allowance equivalent to $7 for the next four months.
President Donald Trump warned Sunday that Iran would get "hit very hard" by the United States if more protesters die.
"We're watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they're going to get hit very hard by the United States," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One -- a day after the American operation to capture Tehran's ally Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
 - Deadly clashes -
The protests have taken place in 23 out of Iran's 31 provinces and affected, to varying degrees, at least 40 different cities, most of them small and medium-sized, according to an AFP tally based on official announcements and media reports.
The Norway-based Hengaw rights group said that Revolutionary Guards opened fire on protesters in the Malekshahi county of the western Ilam province on Saturday, killing four members of Iran's Kurdish minority.
The group said it was checking reports that two other people had been killed, adding dozens more were wounded. It also accused the authorities of raiding the main hospital in the city of Ilam to seize the bodies of the protesters.
The Iran Human Rights NGO, also based in Norway, gave an identical toll of four dead, as well as 30 wounded, after "security forces attacked the protests" in Malekshahi.
It said funerals for the dead took place on Sunday with mourners chanting slogans against the government and Khamenei.
Both organisations posted footage of what appeared to be bloodied corpses on the ground, in videos verified by AFP.
Iranian media said a member of the security forces was killed in a clash with "rioters" who attempted to storm a police office, with "two assailants" killed.
In Tehran, sporadic demonstrations on Saturday night were reported in districts in the east, west and south, the Fars news agency said.
 - Hundreds detained -
On Sunday, the vast majority of shops were open in the capital, although the streets appeared less crowded than usual, with riot police and security forces deployed at major intersections, AFP observed.
Images verified by AFP showed Iranian security forces using tear gas to disperse a group of protesters who gathered in central Tehran during the day on Sunday.
HRANA said that over the last week at least 582 people have been arrested.
Hengaw said almost all of those killed were from ethnic minorities, chiefly Kurds and Lors.
Abroad, several hundred people took part in two separate rallies in Paris on Sunday to support the protesters, following similar actions in London a day earlier, AFP correspondents said.

Former President Donald Trump said the United States is “locked and loaded” to act if Iran violently targets peaceful protesters, as demonstrations over high living costs turn deadly.

Trump says US will 'come to their rescue' if Iran kills protesters

Former President Donald Trump said the United States is &ldquo;locked and loaded&rdquo; to act if Iran violently targets peaceful protesters, as demonstrations over high living costs turn deadly.

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States is "locked and loaded" to respond if Iran kills protesters, after cost-of-living demonstrations in the country turned deadly.
Protesters and security forces clashed in several Iranian cities Thursday with six reported killed in the first deaths since the unrest escalated.
Shopkeepers in the capital Tehran went on strike Sunday over high prices and economic stagnation, actions that have since spread to other parts of the country.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that "if Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue."
<iframe class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115824439366264186/embed" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
 "We are locked and loaded and ready to go," the Republican leader added.
Iran's Fars news agency reported Thursday that two people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters in the city of Lordegan, in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and three in Azna, in neighbouring Lorestan province.
State television reported earlier that a member of Iran's security forces was killed overnight during protests in the western city of Kouhdasht.
The demonstrations are smaller than the last major incident in 2022, triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women.
Her death sparked a nationwide wave of anger that left several hundred people dead including dozens of members of the security forces.

Clashes between protesters and security forces in several Iranian cities left six people dead as demonstrations over rising prices and economic hardship spread beyond Tehran.

Fresh clashes kill six in Iran cost-of-living protests

Clashes between protesters and security forces in several Iranian cities left six people dead as demonstrations over rising prices and economic hardship spread beyond Tehran.

Protesters and security forces clashed in several Iranian cities on Thursday, with six reported killed, the first deaths since the cost-of-living demonstrations broke out.
The protests began on Sunday in Tehran, where shopkeepers went on strike over high prices and economic stagnation, and have since spread to other parts of the country.
On Thursday, Iran's Fars news agency reported two people killed in clashes between security forces and protesters in the city of Lordegan, in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and three in Azna, in neighbouring Lorestan province.
"Some protesters began throwing stones at the city's administrative buildings, including the provincial governor's office, the mosque, the Martyrs' Foundation, the town hall and banks," Fars said of Lordegan, adding that police responded with tear gas.
Fars reported that the buildings were "severely damaged" and that police arrested several people described as "ringleaders".
In Azna, Fars said "rioters took advantage of a protest gathering... to attack a police commissariat".
During previous protest movements, state media has labelled demonstrators "rioters".
Earlier Thursday, state television reported that a member of Iran's security forces was killed overnight during protests in the western city of Kouhdasht.
"A 21-year-old member of the Basij from the city of Kouhdasht was killed last night by rioters while defending public order," the channel said, citing Said Pourali, the deputy governor of Lorestan Province.
The Basij are a volunteer paramilitary force linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the ideological branch of the Islamic republic's army.
Pourali said that "during the demonstrations in Kouhdasht, 13 police officers and Basij members were injured by stone throwing".
In the western city of Hamedan, protesters torched a motorbike in what the Tasnim news agency described as an unsuccessful attempt to burn down a mosque.
The same agency reported on Thursday that 30 people in a district of Tehran had been arrested the night before for alleged public order offences in a "coordinated operation by the security and intelligence services".
 - 'End up in hell' -
The demonstrations are smaller than the last major outbreak of unrest in 2022, triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women.
Her death sparked a nationwide wave of anger that left several hundred people dead, including dozens of members of the security forces.
The latest protests began in the capital and spread after students from at least 10 universities joined in on Tuesday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sought to calm tensions, acknowledging protesters' "legitimate demands", and he urged the government Thursday to take action to improve the economic situation.
"From an Islamic perspective... if we do not resolve the issue of people's livelihoods, we will end up in Hell," Pezeshkian said at an event broadcast on state television.
Authorities, however, have also promised to take a "firm" stance, and have warned against exploiting the situation to sow chaos.
Local media coverage of the demonstrations has varied, with some outlets focusing on economic difficulties, and others on incidents caused by "troublemakers".
Iran is in the middle of an extended weekend, with the authorities declaring Wednesday a bank holiday at the last minute, citing the need to save energy during the cold weather.
They made no official link to the protests.
The weekend in Iran begins on Thursday, and Saturday is a long-standing national holiday.
Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that peaceful economic protests were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response".
"Any attempt to turn economic protests into a tool of insecurity, destruction of public property, or implementation of externally designed scenarios will inevitably be met with a legal, proportionate and decisive response."
 - Viral video -
Earlier this week, a video showing a person sitting in the middle of a Tehran street facing down motorcycle police went viral on social media, with some seeing it as a "Tiananmen moment" -- a reference to the famous image of a Chinese protester defying a column of tanks during 1989 anti-government protests in Beijing.
On Thursday, state television alleged the footage had been staged to "create a symbol" and aired another video purportedly shot from another angle by a police officer's camera.
Sitting cross-legged, the protester remains impassive, head bowed, before covering his head with his jacket as behind him a crowd flees clouds of tear gas.
On Wednesday evening, Tasnim reported the arrest of seven people it described as being affiliated with "groups hostile to the Islamic Republic based in the United States and Europe".
It said they had been "tasked with turning the demonstrations into violence". Tasnim did not say when they were arrested.
The national currency, the rial, has lost more than a third of its value against the US dollar over the past year, while double-digit hyperinflation has been undermining Iranians' purchasing power for years.
The inflation rate in December was 52 percent year-on-year, according to the Statistical Centre of Iran, an official body.

Launched on June 18, Operation Sindhu has evacuated over 4,400 Indians from Iran and Israel via 19 flights. India expressed gratitude to Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Armenia, and Turkmenistan for their support.

India successfully evacuates over 4,400 citizens amid Iran-Israel conflict

Launched on June 18, Operation Sindhu has evacuated over 4,400 Indians from Iran and Israel via 19 flights. India expressed gratitude to Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Armenia, and Turkmenistan for their support.

India has evacuated more than 4,400 Indian nationals from Iran and Israel so far in 19 special flights under Operation Sindhu launched on June 18 to bring home its citizens amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
A fresh batch of 173 Indians evacuated from Iran reached Delhi late Thursday night in a flight from Armenian capital Yerevan, the MEA said in a post on X.
At his weekly media briefing a day before, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in response to queries on Operation Sindhu, said New Delhi was assessing the situation on the ground and a decision on the future course of action would be taken based on it.
Over 3,400 Indian nationals have been evacuated so far in 14 flights from Iran since the start of Operation Sindhu, according to data shared by him during the briefing. Jaiswal later shared updated evacuee figures in the post on X after the arrival of the flight from Yeravan.
"A special evacuation flight from Yerevan, Armenia landed in New Delhi at 22:30 hrs on 26th June, bringing home 173 Indian nationals from Iran," he wrote.
"As part of #OperationSindhu, a total of 4415 Indian nationals (3597 from Iran and 818 from Israel) have been evacuated so far using 19 special evacuation flights including 3 IAF aircraft. 14 OCI card-holders, 9 Nepali nationals, 4 Sri Lankan nationals and 1 Iranian spouse of an Indian national were also evacuated from Iran," he added.
On June 24, India said while it remained "deeply concerned about the prospects for overall and sustained regional security and stability", it welcomed reports of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Hours after US President Donald Trump's claims of an Iran-Israel ceasefire, the MEA in a statement had said "India stands ready to play its part" to resolve the situation and insisted on "dialogue and diplomacy" as the way forward.
Jaiswal on Thursday was asked if India would continue Operation Sindhu after the Iran-Israel ceasefire, and about the total number of India nationals evacuated from the two countries so far.
"We launched Operation Sindhu on June 18. We have around 10,000 people. Indian community members in Iran. And, around 40,000 people in Israel who are Indian nationals," he had said.
One Iranian woman, who is the wife of an Indian national has also been evacuated, he added.
The MEA spokesperson had said, "In all, we mounted, 14 flights to bring back Indian nationals from Iran. These flights flew from Mashhad, as also from Yeravan in Armenia, and Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. I understand that one more flight is on its way from Armenia, and it will land later this evening. With that we would have completed.. all those people who wish to be evacuated from Iran." A special flight carrying 272 Indian and three Nepalese nationals from Iran arrived in Delhi a little past midnight (June 26) from the Iranian city of Mashhad, Jaiswal had posted on X earlier.
India on Wednesday evacuated 296 Indian citizens and four Nepalese nationals from Iran.
"As far as Israel is concerned, we have so far evacuated 818 Indian nationals in four flights. As you are aware the airspace in Israel was closed, so we had to take our people to bordering countries, i.e., Jordan and Egypt, and from both these countries they were put on special flights, and they came back home," he told reporters.
The MEA spokesperson said, "We are thankful to the government of Egypt and Jordan for their support." Indian embassies in Israel, Jordan and Egypt "collaborated very closely" with the MEA headquarters in Delhi, in mounting the evacuation operation.
"But, we would also like to thank government of Iran, as you would know that we made our requests, they opened their airspace for us to evacuate, our nationals. We are grateful to the government of Iran for this special gesture. We are also thankful to the governments of Turkmenistan and Armenia for helping us evacuate our people," he said.
India on Tuesday evacuated more than 1,100 citizens from Iran and Israel.
It brought back 594 Indians from Israel, using C-17 heavy-lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force to fly out more than 400 people after they were moved out of Israel to Jordan and Egypt by land transit points.
Also, 161 Indians were brought back in a chartered flight from Amman after they had moved to the Jordanian capital from Israel by road.
A total of 573 Indians, three Sri Lankan and two Nepalese nationals were evacuated from Iran in two chartered flights on Tuesday, according to details shared by the MEA.
Several other flights have brought Indian nationals back home after being evacuated from Iran in the past several days.
Israel and Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at each other's cities and military and strategic facilities since the hostilities began more than a week ago.
The tensions escalated significantly following the US bombing of three major Iranian nuclear sites on the morning of June 22.
India has evacuated its nationals on chartered flights operated from the Iranian city of Mashhad, the Armenian capital of Yerevan and the Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat since June 18.
Iran lifted airspace restrictions on June 20 to facilitate three chartered flights from Mashhad.
The first flight landed in New Delhi late on June 20 with 290 Indians, and the second one landed in the national capital on June 21 afternoon with 310 Indians.
Another flight arrived from the Armenian capital city of Yerevan on June 19 and special evacuation flight from Ashgabat landed in New Delhi early on June 21.
India on June 23 had evacuated 290 Indian nationals and a Sri Lankan citizen from Iran following the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites.&nbsp;

Iran declares its military will dictate the response to recent US strikes on its nuclear facilities, seen as damaging to diplomatic relations.

Iran says its military will decide timing, nature and scale of its response to US attacks

Iran asserts its military will lead response to US actions on nuclear sites, calling US moves a diplomatic breach. Tensions rise at the UN.

Iran says its military will decide 'timing, nature and scale' of its response to US attacks

Iran will decide its response to US military actions on its nuclear sites, amid accusations that diplomacy has been disregarded.

Iran has said that the US "decided to destroy diplomacy" with its strikes on the country's nuclear programme and that the Iranian military will decide the "timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response".
 Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani on Sunday told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that it called after US strikes on three of its nuclear facilities that "Iran had repeatedly warned the warmongering US regime to refrain from stumbling into this quagmire".
The US "decided to destroy diplomacy" with its strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and the Iranian military will decide the "timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response", he said.
"We will take all measures necessary," the envoy told the meeting.
Iravani accused Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of succeeding in getting US President Donald Trump to do the West's "dirty work" and hijack US foreign policy, "dragging the United States into yet another costly and baseless war."
He called US and Israeli aggression against Iran "a clear and flagrant breach of international law".
Iravani said that as Iran's foreign minister held talks this week with several European counterparts, "the United States decided to destroy that diplomacy."
"What conclusion can be drawn from this situation?," he asked. "From the perspective of Western countries, Iran must 'return to the negotiating table'. But, as Iran's foreign minister mentioned, 'how can Iran return to something it never left -- let alone'."
&nbsp;

Countries urgently evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran amidst escalating conflict, facing disrupted airspace and resorting to land routes for safety.

Foreigners evacuated by air, land and sea as Israel-Iran conflict worsens

Global efforts to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran highlight escalating tensions, with disrupted airspace complicating travel and prompting land routes.

Evacuations in Israel-Iran Crisis

Intense Israel-Iran conflict prompts global evacuations through ground routes amid sky restrictions.

Countries are evacuating their nationals from Israel and Iran by air, land and sea as conflict rages between the bitter rivals.
Days of attacks and reprisals by the two enemies have shuttered airspace across the Middle East, severely disrupting commercial flights and leaving people unable to get in or out of the region easily.
Some governments are using land borders to get their citizens out by road to countries where airports remain open. &nbsp; Thousands of foreigners have already left since the conflict started last week when Israel launched surprise missile strikes on Iran.
 Bulgaria &nbsp; Bulgaria has moved all its diplomats from Tehran to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, the Balkan country's prime minister said Thursday.&nbsp; We are not closing the embassy, ??but moving it to Baku until the danger passes, said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
A group of 89 Bulgarians was evacuated from Israel by plane to Sofia, along with 59 nationals from Slovenia, the US, Belgium, Albania, Kosovo and Romania.
They left from the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where they had been transferred by bus across the border from Israel.
He said the government had urged all Bulgarians willing to join the convoy to do so. They set off in 11 vehicles on Wednesday morning.
There were alternatives. They could travel via Turkey, but eventually we decided that they should go via Azerbaijan, Zhelyazkov added.
 China &nbsp; China said it has evacuated more than 1,600 nationals from Iran and several hundred others from Israel.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing would continue to do its utmost to assist in the safe transfer and evacuation of Chinese citizens.
Aell Huang, who was in the Iranian city of Isfahan, said he didn't feel safe during the conflict. I heard explosions from time to time. Civilians got hurt too. I got more prepared mentally once I saw the embassy's warning.
He and some friends hired a car and headed to Azerbaijan, waiting at border control for almost 12 hours, where he saw as many as 60 other Chinese nationals.&nbsp;
The Chinese Embassy said it would organise group evacuations by bus from Israel starting Friday.
A notice posted on the embassy's WeChat social media account said citizens would be taken out through the Taba border crossing to Egypt. It asked them to register online and said they would be notified of the evacuation time.
People carrying Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macao passports were eligible, the notice said.
 European Union &nbsp; The European Union has helped evacuate some 400 people from Israel via Jordan and Egypt as part of its efforts to coordinate an emergency response within the 27-nation bloc.&nbsp; Member states coordinate the list and we co-finance these flights up to 75 per cent of the transport costs, European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova told a regular press conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
Hrncirova said the E.U. was fielding requests by Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, and Poland for assistance with Middle East evacuations.
 France &nbsp; French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot said Thursday it was helping nationals who want to leave Iran and Israel to do so through neighboring countries where commercial flights were still available.
Barrot said people in Iran could travel to Armenia and Turkey without a visa. Those unable to reach the border on their own would be transported by convoy by the end of the week so they could take commercial flights to France.
French nationals wanting to leave Israel can go via Jordan and Egypt. From Friday morning, some buses will carry passengers from the Israeli border to Amman and Sharm el-Sheikh airports.
Germany &nbsp; Germany flew 171 people out of Amman on a special flight on Wednesday. A further 174 people returned on Thursday and another flight is planned this weekend.
Passenger Daniel Halav, who was stuck in Tel Aviv, said he had never been so glad to be home after landing in Frankfurt, the German news agency dpa reported.
But, he said, we had to take care of ourselves of how we got to Amman. From my point of view, we were left a bit alone there.
 The German Foreign Ministry said officials had decided against organizing convoys to get people to Amman, arguing this move could have created a security risk and that those wishing to leave were scattered across Israel.

Commercial satellite images reveal significant damages to Iranian military and nuclear sites amid rising tensions.

Satellite Reveals Damage to Iranian Sites

Evident destruction in key Iranian facilities revealed through satellite imagery amid escalating regional tensions.

Satellite images reveal damage to Iran's military and nuclear facilities amid escalating regional tensions.

Satellite imagery shows the huge damage which has been inflicted by Israel on military and nuclear facilities in Iran.
The images from commercial satellite company Maxar help paint a clearer picture of what has happened on the ground&mdash;amid restrictions on free press, and reports of limited internet access.
The imagery shows in detail the damage to one of Iran's key uranium enrichment facilities near Natanz, a city south of Tehran.
Analysis shows several buildings have been hit in the north-west sector of the facility.
There are also new vehicle tracks and dirt piles, on the surface in the middle of the facility
2003 imagery of the same location shows large structures in the same place &mdash; suggesting they may have been buried.
An Israeli military official told Reuters on Saturday that the Natanz site was significantly damaged. They added the Isfahan nuclear site had also been damaged.
The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Saturday that radiation levels outside the Natanz facility remain unchanged.
Military buildings damaged The strikes haven't been limited to nuclear-related facilities.
In Iran's north, the imagery shows damage to parts of the Shahid Modarres Garrison rocket production facility near Bid Kaneh, south-west of Tehran.
The site is reportedly one of the country's key ballistic missile facilities, which has been expanding in recent years, according to an investigation by Reuters.
Several buildings show evidence they were directly hit with strikes. Some have large gaping holes in their roofs.
Reuters reported last year that an Iranian official said some of the buildings were also being used to manufacture drones, though it was unable to independently confirm the claim.
The situation on the ground in Iran is still unfolding.
This can be seen in imagery from the city of Shiraz, in south-central Iran.
The burning facility image is a Shiraz Electronic Industries production facility.
According to Iran Watch, a website which monitors the country's nuclear and missile programs, the company produces electronics for the Iranian military &mdash; including important radar systems.
The company is subject to sanctions by several western countries &mdash; including Australia.
Detailed imagery appears to confirm parts of a large suspected missile facility in Kermanshah, in Iran's west, have also been hit several times.
A 2021 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies listed Kermanshah as the location of a number of suspected missile deployment sites, with evidence of some underground facilities.

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