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 studies of 779 different deaths — for the reason that protests started on Dec. 28.
The confirmed deaths embody 2,403 grownup protesters, 12 protesters beneath the age of 18, 147 government-affiliated personnel and 9 non-protesting civilians, HRANA stated.
One other 1,134 protesters have been critically injured, HRANA stated, with at the very 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 demise tolls associated to the continued protests.
This video seize taken on Jan. 14, 2026 from UGC photos posted on social media on Jan. 13, 2026, exhibits dozens of our bodies mendacity on the bottom on the Tehran Province Forensic Diagnostic and Laboratory Centre in Kahrizak, Iran.
-/UGC/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
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 may pay a giant value.”
“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 need to 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 every one U.S. residents ought to depart the nation.
Trump stated he hasn’t been given an correct variety of how many individuals have been killed to this point within the protests, however stated “one is rather a lot.”
“I believe it is rather a lot. It is too many, no matter it’s,” he stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump carrying 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 advised reporters that he might 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 advised different choices are additionally nonetheless beneath dialogue.
One U.S. official advised ABC Information that among the many choices into account are new sanctions in opposition to key regime figures or in opposition to Iran’s vitality or banking sectors.
Members of Trump’s nationwide safety group — together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe — met Tuesday morning to debate Iran, in accordance 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 exhibits photos from a morgue with dozens of our bodies and mourners after crackdown on the outskirts of Iran’s capital, in Kahrizak, Tehran Province. (UGC by way of AP)
The Related Press
Protests have been spreading throughout the nation since late December. The primary marches befell in downtown Tehran, with contributors 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 significant 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 high Iranian officers have stated they’re keen to have interaction 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, advised Wednesday that there can 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, now we have to do it rapidly,” Mohseni-Ejei stated in a video shared on-line by Iranian state tv, in accordance with The Related Press.
“If it turns into late, two months, three months later, it does not have the identical impact,” Mohseni-Ejei stated.
On Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted by state media telling a gathering with Financial system Ministry officers that if financial circumstances had been improved, “we would not be witnessing their protests on the streets.”
On this picture obtained by The Related Press, Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC by way of 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 change into a outstanding critic of the Iranian authorities — on Monday appealed to Trump to behave in assist of the protesters.
On Tuesday, Pahlavi referred to 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 might have an obligation to guard the lives of your compatriots,” Pahlavi added. “You shouldn’t have a lot time. Be part of them as quickly as attainable.”
ABC Information’ Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
