At least 2,500 people have died in protests across Iran, as the Khamenei-led Islamic Republic faces weeks of massive unrest triggered by rising prices and inflation. Meanwhile, some Iranians were able to make phone calls abroad on Tuesday for the first time after the government partially lifted a communications blackout, reported AP.The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported early Wednesday that at least 2,571 people have been killed so far. This death toll is higher than any unrest in Iran in recent decades and is being compared to the chaos during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.Iranian state television offered its first official acknowledgment of the deaths, quoting an unnamed official who said the country had “a lot of martyrs”, without providing any numbers.Iran’s judiciary chief on Wednesday signaled that authorities could move swiftly to try and execute those detained during nationwide protests, despite a warning from US President Donald Trump. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei made the remarks in a video shared by Iranian state television, suggesting the judiciary would fast-track cases linked to the unrest.“If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,” Mohseni-Ejei said. He added: “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.” His comments appeared to directly defy US President Donald Trump, who warned Tehran in a CBS interview aired Tuesday: “We will take very strong action.“Iran’s crackdown on nationwide demonstrations may be the most violent in the country’s contemporary history, France’s foreign minister said Wednesday.Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters while returning to the White House that “The killing looks like it’s significant, but we don’t know yet for certain,” Once he has the numbers, he said, “we’ll act accordingly”, BBC reported.Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday that the scale of the repression appeared unprecedented and called for an immediate end to the violence. “What we suspect is that this is the most violent repression in Iran’s contemporary history and that it must absolutely stop,” Barrot said, as quoted by the Guardian.The protests began in late December over Iran’s deteriorating economy and quickly evolved into open challenges to the ruling theocracy. Rising prices and job insecurity pushed angry traders, university students and urban residents onto the streets of major cities, including Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan. Demonstrators have directly targeted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, with images emerging from Tehran showing graffiti and chants calling for his death — an act that could carry the death penalty. As the toll climbed, US President Donald Trump commented on the unrest via his Truth Social platform, writing: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!”Trump added, “I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”Hours later, US President Donald Trump told reporters that his administration was waiting for accurate information on the number of deaths before taking action “accordingly”. Referring to Iran’s security forces, he said: “It would seem to me that they have been badly misbehaving, but that is not confirmed.”Iranian officials swiftly rejected the remarks. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned Washington against interference, writing: “We declare the names of the main killers of the people of Iran: 1- Trump 2-” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Activists said at least 2,403 of those killed were protesters, while 147 were linked to government forces. Twelve children were among the dead, and more than 18,100 people have reportedly been detained.Witnesses who briefly managed to contact AP described a heavy security presence across Tehran, with riot police stationed at major intersections, damaged government buildings and little public activity. While some phone calls were possible, internet access remained largely blocked, leaving Iranians isolated as uncertainty grew over what may happen next.
