Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on January 9, 2026.
Mahsa | Afp | Getty Images
The death toll fromprotestsin Iran has reached2,571people, the U.S.-basedHRANArightsgroupsaid on Wednesday, as the Islamic Republic’s clerical rulers face the biggest wave of dissent in years.
U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpurged Iranians on Tuesday to keep protesting, promising help is on the way. Iranian officials, however, have accused U.S. and Israel of fueling violence in the country and blamed the deaths on “terrorist operatives” receiving foreign guidance to instigate.
Thegroupsaid it had so far verified the deaths of 2,403 protesters, 147 government-affiliated individuals, 12 people aged under 18 and nine non-protester civilians.
AnIranian officialsaid on Tuesday about 2,000 people had beenkilled, the first time authorities have given an overall death toll from more than two weeks of nationwide unrest.
Asked what he meant by “help is on its way”, Trump told reporters they would have to figure that out. Trump has said military action is among the options he is weighing to punish Iran over the crackdown.
The unrest, sparked by dire economic conditions, has posed the biggest internal challenge toIran’srulers for atleastthree years and has come at a time of intensifying international pressure after Israeli and U.S. strikes last year.
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