Anti-government protests in Iran entered their 14th consecutive day, with an Iranian human rights organisation reporting that at least 192 people have been killed during the unrest, as pressure on Tehran intensified both domestically and internationally.
According to the Norway-based Iranian human rights organisation, the actual death toll could be significantly higher, as a near-total internet shutdown imposed by Iranian authorities has made it difficult to verify the full scale of casualties. The group said the communications blackout was obstructing independent documentation and concealing the extent of the crackdown.
The demonstrations, which began over economic grievances and rapidly evolved into broader calls for political change, represent the largest wave of protests Iran has seen in years. As previously reported, the unrest has spread across multiple cities, with protesters openly challenging the political system established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Security forces have responded with force, resulting in dozens of deaths and mass arrests.
Amid the escalating violence, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration was seriously considering military options against Iran, including potential strikes on non-military targets. According to the report, President Donald Trump has been briefed on various attack scenarios, though no final decision has yet been made.
Trump has recently reiterated earlier threats, warning Iran’s leadership that the killing of protesters would trigger a “severe response.” He has claimed that Iranians are demanding greater freedom than ever before and said the United States was prepared to “help,” remarks that Iranian officials have described as provocative and destabilising.
Tehran, meanwhile, has blamed foreign powers for the unrest. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating chaos inside Iran, alleging that both countries were attempting to fuel disorder and violence. In a statement, he urged Iranian citizens to distance themselves from what he described as “rioters and terrorists” and warned against allowing unrest to spiral further.