LONDON — Greater than 2,500 folks have died throughout nationwide protests in Iran over the previous 17 days, activists stated Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his assist for demonstrators and hinted at potential American intervention in opposition to the federal government in Tehran.
The Human Rights Activists Information Company (HRANA) stated it had verified a complete of two,571 deaths — and is reviewing reviews of 779 different deaths — for the reason that protests started on Dec. 28.
The confirmed deaths embrace 2,403 grownup protesters, 12 protesters underneath the age of 18, 147 government-affiliated personnel and 9 non-protesting civilians, HRANA stated.
One other 1,134 protesters have been severely injured, HRANA stated, with at the least 18,137 folks arrested.
The HRANA information depends on the work of activists inside and outdoors the nation. ABC Information can’t independently confirm these numbers. The Iranian authorities has not supplied any civilian dying tolls associated to the continued protests.
This video seize taken on Jan. 14, 2026 from UGC photographs posted on social media on Jan. 13, 2026, reveals dozens of our bodies mendacity on the bottom on the Tehran Province Forensic Diagnostic and Laboratory Centre in Kahrizak, Iran.
-/UGC/AFP through Getty Pictures
As casualties mounted, Trump wrote on social media on Tuesday, “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They’ll pay an enormous worth.”
“I’ve cancelled all conferences with Iranian Officers till the mindless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” Trump added.
When later pressed by a reporter throughout a go to to Michigan on Tuesday on what he meant by assistance is on its method, Trump responded, “You are gonna should determine that one out, I am sorry.”
Trump stated he thought it was “a good suggestion” for Individuals to evacuate from Iran. The State Division on Tuesday stated that each one U.S. residents ought to go away the nation.
Trump stated he hasn’t been given an correct variety of how many individuals have been killed to date within the protests, however stated “one is quite a bit.”
“I believe it is quite a bit. It is too many, no matter it’s,” he stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump sporting a “completely satisfied Trump” pin speaks throughout a gathering with oil business executives on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 9, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Later Tuesday, he instructed reporters that he can be receiving “correct numbers” on what number of protesters have been killed in Iran quickly and “we’ll act accordingly.”
Trump on Monday introduced a 25% tariff on any nation doing enterprise with Iran. The president and White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt steered different choices are additionally nonetheless underneath dialogue.
One U.S. official instructed ABC Information that among the many choices into account are new sanctions in opposition to key regime figures or in opposition to Iran’s power or banking sectors.
Members of Trump’s nationwide safety staff — together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe — met Tuesday morning to debate Iran, in line with Leavitt. Trump didn’t attend the assembly, nor was he scheduled to, she stated.
Vice President JD Vance additionally led an Iran technique assembly on Tuesday afternoon with the Nationwide Safety Council principals committee, a supply with direct data of the assembly confirmed to ABC Information.
Iranian officers have threatened retaliatory strikes in opposition to U.S. and Israeli targets within the occasion of any outdoors intervention.
This body seize from movies taken between Jan. 9 and Jan. 11, 2026, and circulating on social media purportedly reveals photographs from a morgue with dozens of our bodies and mourners after crackdown on the outskirts of Iran’s capital, in Kahrizak, Tehran Province. (UGC through AP)
The Related Press
Protests have been spreading throughout the nation since late December. The primary marches happened in downtown Tehran, with members demonstrating in opposition to rising inflation and the falling worth of the nationwide forex, the rial.
Because the protests unfold, they’ve taken on a extra explicitly anti-government tone.
Authorities forces have responded with a serious safety crackdown. A sustained nationwide web outage has additionally been in place throughout the nation. On-line monitoring group NetBlocks stated on Wednesday that the blackout had surpassed 132 hours.
Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prime Iranian officers have stated they’re prepared to interact with the financial grievances of protesters, although have framed the unrest as pushed by “rioters” and “terrorists” sponsored by international nations — prime amongst them the U.S. and Israel — and supported by international infiltrators.
The top of Iran’s judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, steered Wednesday that there could be expedited trials and executions for many who have been arrested within the nationwide protests.
“If we wish to do a job, we should always do it now. If we wish to do one thing, we’ve got to do it rapidly,” Mohseni-Ejei stated in a video shared on-line by Iranian state tv, in line with The Related Press.
“If it turns into late, two months, three months later, it would not have the identical impact,” Mohseni-Ejei stated.
On Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted by state media telling a gathering with Economic system Ministry officers that if financial circumstances have been improved, “we would not be witnessing their protests on the streets.”
On this photograph obtained by The Related Press, Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC through AP)
The Related Press
Dissident figures overseas have urged Iranians to press the protests and topple the federal government in Tehran.
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi — who from his base within the U.S. has turn out to be a outstanding critic of the Iranian authorities — on Monday appealed to Trump to behave in assist of the protesters.
On Tuesday, Pahlavi known as on members of the Iranian navy to affix the protests. “You’re the nationwide navy of Iran, not the navy of the Islamic Republic,” he wrote on X.
“You have got an obligation to guard the lives of your compatriots,” Pahlavi added. “You would not have a lot time. Be part of them as quickly as attainable.”
ABC Information’ Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
