LONDON — Greater than 2,500 individuals have died throughout nationwide protests in Iran over the previous 17 days, activists stated Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his help for demonstrators and hinted at potential American intervention towards 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 experiences of 779 different deaths — because the 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 no less than 18,137 individuals arrested.
The HRANA knowledge depends on the work of activists inside and out of doors the nation. ABC Information can’t independently confirm these numbers. The Iranian authorities has not offered any civilian dying tolls associated to the continuing 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 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 approach, Trump responded, “You are gonna need to determine that one out, I am sorry.”
Trump stated he thought it was “a good suggestion” for People to evacuate from Iran. The State Division on Tuesday stated that each 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 up to now within the protests, however stated “one is loads.”
“I feel it is loads. It is too many, no matter it’s,” he stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump carrying a “joyful Trump” pin speaks throughout a gathering with oil trade executives on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 9, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Later Tuesday, he advised reporters that he will probably 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 instructed different choices are additionally nonetheless beneath dialogue.
One U.S. official advised ABC Information that among the many choices into account are new sanctions towards key regime figures or towards Iran’s vitality or banking sectors.
Members of Trump’s nationwide safety crew — 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 information of the assembly confirmed to ABC Information.
Iranian officers have threatened retaliatory strikes towards U.S. and Israeli targets within the occasion of any exterior 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 passed off in downtown Tehran, with individuals demonstrating towards rising inflation and the falling worth of the nationwide foreign money, 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 high Iranian officers have stated they’re keen 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.
On Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted by state media telling a gathering with Financial system Ministry officers that if financial situations have been improved, “we would not be witnessing their protests on the streets.”
Dissident figures overseas have urged Iranians to press the protests and topple the federal government in Tehran.
On this picture obtained by The Related Press, Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC through AP)
The Related Press
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi — who from his base within the U.S. has turn into a outstanding critic of the Iranian authorities — on Monday appealed to Trump to behave in help of the protesters.
On Tuesday, Pahlavi known as on members of the Iranian army to affix the protests. “You’re the nationwide army of Iran, not the army of the Islamic Republic,” he wrote on X.
“You’ve got an obligation to guard the lives of your compatriots,” Pahlavi added. “You do not need a lot time. Be part of them as quickly as attainable.”
ABC Information’ Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
