Iran has warned it will respond forcefully if attacked by the United States, as deadly protests continue to spread across the country despite a harsh government crackdown.
Demonstrations erupted over rising living costs but have since grown into nationwide calls for an end to Iran’s clerical leadership. Protesters returned to the streets again on Saturday night, even as security forces intensified their response.
Hospital workers report scenes of devastation, with medical facilities overwhelmed by the number of injured and dead. In just two days, some hospitals received more than a hundred bodies. The overall death toll is feared to be far higher, with hundreds believed to have been killed and thousands injured across the country. More than 10,000 people have reportedly been detained since the unrest began.
The situation has drawn sharp international attention. The United States has warned Iran over the killing of protesters, while Iran’s leadership has responded with strong threats, saying any foreign attack would trigger retaliation against regional military and shipping targets.
Iranian authorities have taken an uncompromising stance. Protesters have been labeled enemies of the state, with senior officials issuing severe warnings. The country’s supreme leadership has dismissed demonstrators as troublemakers acting on foreign influence.
Inside Iran, medical workers say many victims arrived with fatal gunshot wounds, some dying almost immediately after reaching emergency rooms. Witnesses describe security forces firing directly at crowds in several cities.
Footage circulating online shows intense clashes between protesters and security forces, burning vehicles, gunfire echoing through streets, and rows of bodies wrapped in shrouds. In some areas, residents can be heard banging pots and pans from their homes in defiance.
Authorities have imposed a sweeping internet shutdown, cutting off most access to the outside world and making it difficult to verify information. Despite this, videos and images continue to emerge, offering glimpses of the violence unfolding across the country.
Iran’s president has blamed foreign powers for the unrest, accusing them of stirring chaos and violence. However, videos circulating online appear to show security forces using live ammunition against demonstrators in multiple regions.
Exiled opposition figures have urged protesters to continue demonstrating but warned them to stay safe and move in groups. Many Iranians abroad have expressed fear for loved ones back home as communication remains limited.
This wave of unrest marks the most significant protests Iran has seen in years, reviving memories of previous crackdowns that left hundreds dead. With tensions rising at home and abroad, the crisis shows no sign of easing.