Unrest in Iran kills at least 2,000 activists say

TEHRAN (Web Desk) – Unrest in Iran has killed more than 2003  people, a activists  group said on Tuesday, as Tehran warned it would target US military bases if President Donald Trump follows through on threats to intervene on behalf of protesters.

Iran is facing its largest anti-government demonstrations since 2022, driven by economic hardship and political anger. Trump has repeatedly warned Iranian authorities against using force on demonstrators and has said the United States could intervene if the crackdown continues.

According to its latest figures compiled from activists inside and outside Iran, US-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 members of the security forces. The group also reported that more than 10,600 people have been arrested during the unrest. Reuters was unable to independently verify the figures.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, addressing parliament on Sunday, cautioned Washington against what he described as “any miscalculation.”

“In the event of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories, as well as all US bases and ships, will be considered legitimate targets,” said Qalibaf, a former commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to address the country’s economic plans and “people’s demands” in an interview to be aired on state television on Sunday, as protests against the government and worsening economic conditions continue to intensify, with at least 192 people reportedly killed over the past two weeks, according to a rights group.

Read also: Iranian unrest grows as Trump and US lawmakers issue warnings

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB said the president, in his conversation with national media, outlined the government’s major economic reform agenda, particularly changes to the subsidy system, and discussed recent developments along with the government’s approach to responding to public demands. The interview is expected to be broadcast later on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Norway-based Iran Human Rights said it had verified the killing of at least 192 protesters since demonstrations began, a sharp increase from an earlier figure of 51. The group warned that the actual death toll could be significantly higher due to a days-long internet blackout that has hampered independent verification.

Protests erupted on December 28 over soaring inflation and economic hardship and have since taken on a political tone, with demonstrators calling for an end to clerical rule. Iranian authorities have accused the United States and Israel of instigating the unrest.

Regional tensions have also escalated. Tehran has warned it would retaliate against Israeli territory and US bases in the event of American strikes on Iran. The warning came as Israeli sources said Israel was on high alert amid speculation over possible US intervention.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly cautioned Iranian leaders against using force on protesters and said on Saturday that the United States stands ready to help. Earlier, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Washington against “any miscalculation,” stating that Israel and all US bases and ships would be considered legitimate targets if Iran were attacked.

Three Israeli sources familiar with security consultations said Israel had raised its alert level but declined to provide details. Israeli officials and the military did not comment publicly.

Information from Iran remains limited due to the internet blackout imposed by authorities since Thursday. Earlier, US-based rights group HRANA reported at least 116 deaths, including 37 members of the security forces.

Iranian state television has aired funeral processions for security personnel killed during the unrest in western cities such as Gachsaran and Yasuj. Separately, a video verified by Reuters showed large crowds in Tehran’s Punak neighbourhood at night, banging on metal structures in what appeared to be a coordinated protest.

Iran has faced repeated waves of unrest in recent years, most notably in 2022 following the death in custody of a woman detained over alleged dress code violations.

Amid the crisis, Pakistan’s embassy in Tehran has established a crisis management unit to assist Pakistani nationals. Ambassador Mudassir Tipu said the embassy could be contacted round the clock and shared emergency contact numbers for citizens in Iran.

A senior US intelligence official described the unfolding situation as an “endurance game,” with protesters seeking to sustain pressure on the authorities while the government attempts to suppress demonstrations without provoking foreign intervention.

In an interview published by The Economist on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of severe consequences if Iran attacked Israel, while suggesting that developments inside Iran should be closely watched.