More than 2,000 people have been killed during the violent crackdown by security forces on protests in Iran, a human rights group has said, as President Trump promised Iranians that help was on its way.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that it had so far confirmed the killing of 1,850 protesters, 135 people affiliated with the government, and nine uninvolved civilians as well as nine children over the last 17 days despite an internet blackout.
An Iranian official also told Reuters that 2,000 people had been killed but that terrorists were to blame.
Trump said Iranian authorities would pay a big price for the killings and urged people to keep protesting.
He has been weighing military and other options in response to the crackdown, having already announced 25% tariffs on any country trading with Iran.
The protests, which have reportedly spread to 180 cities and towns in all 31 provinces, were sparked by anger over the collapse of the Iranian currency and soaring cost of living. They quickly widened into demands for political change and became one of the most serious challenges to the clerical establishment since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
HRANA said on Tuesday afternoon that, as well as confirming the killing of at least 2,003 people during the unrest, it was also reviewing reports of another 779 deaths.
Another group, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), meanwhile said it had confirmed the killing of at least 734 protesters. Its director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, told AFP news agency that the figures were based on information received from fewer than half of the country's provinces and fewer than 10% of Iran's hospitals, adding: The real number of those killed is likely in the thousands.
It is difficult to gauge the true scale of bloodshed because, like other international news organisations, the BBC is not able to report from inside the country. However, videos posted online on Sunday showed people searching for the bodies of their loved ones at the Kahrizak Forensic Centre in Tehran. The BBC counted at least 180 shrouded bodies and body bags in the footage.
On social media, a flood of messages and videos surfaced, showcasing the protests and responses from the Iranian government, revealing a nation on edge amid escalating violence.
Internationally, there has been a rising chorus of condemnation from leaders and organisations alike, as calls to restore normalcy in Iran intensify.
The situation remains highly volatile, with ongoing protests expected to continue as citizens demand accountability and change.
