It has warned that it will retaliate in the event of an attack by , as BBC sources and human rights organizations speak of , as part of an escalating crackdown by Iranian authorities.
«»a Tehran source said on Sunday. “Many of our friends have been killed. They were shooting with real fire. It’s like a war zone, the streets are full of blood. They collect the bodies with trucks.”
The BBC captured around 180 body bags in footage from a morgue near Tehran. The American organization Human Rights Activist News Agency reports that it has confirmed the deaths of 495 protesters and 48 members of the security forces across the country, while, according to the same source, more than 10,600 people have been arrested in the last two weeks of unrest.
however on Sunday the president said that Iranian officials had contacted him and that they “wanted to negotiate.” He added, however, that the US “may need to act before any meeting”, noting that “very strong options are being considered”.
Trump did not specify what actions are on the table, but according to an official who spoke to the US network CBS, he has already been briefed on scenarios of military strikes against Iran. Other options could include bolstering anti-government sources online, cyberattacks against Iran’s military or imposing new sanctions, officials told the Wall Street Journal.
Iran’s parliament speaker warned that in the event of a US attack, both Israel and US military and naval targets in the region would be considered “legitimate targets”.
The protests, which started due to soaring inflation, have now turned into an open demand for an end to theocratic rule and the power of the supreme leader. Iran’s attorney general said those protesting would be considered “enemies of God,” an offense punishable by death, while Khamenei called the protesters “a group of vandals” seeking to “please” Trump.
On Sunday, Iran announced three days of national mourning for the “martyrs killed in”. Health workers at several hospitals told the BBC that they have been overwhelmed by dead and injured protesters in recent days.
BBC Persian confirmed that 70 bodies were taken to a hospital in the city of Rast on Friday night, while a worker at a hospital in Tehran said: “About 38 people died. Many just arrived at the emergency room…direct shots to the head and heart of young people. Many didn’t even make it to the hospital.”
The BBC and most international media have been prevented from reporting from inside Iran, and since Thursday the authorities have imposed a widespread internet blackout, making it extremely difficult to gather and verify information.
They search for relatives among corpses
Despite the restrictions, visual material has been released, including videos of rows of body bags at the Forensic Center in Tehran province, Kahrizak. In one of the videos, about 180 covered or wrapped bodies can be seen, most of them exposed, while the screams and cries of people who appear to be looking for their relatives can be heard. The footage has been edited to protect the identity of the living, who may face further prosecution.
Attention! Hard images.
Situation is dire guys! I’m also getting suppressed on other platforms. Estimates of 3000+ murdered. Intervention is critical right now.
— Citizen Of The World (@NomadRico)
Videos recently confirmed by BBC Verify show clashes between protesters and security forces in Mashhad, the country’s second largest city. Protesters with covered faces can be seen taking cover behind bins and fires, while in the background a line of security forces can be seen and a vehicle – possibly a bus – is burning. Multiple gunshots and banging pots are heard.
In Tehran, confirmed footage from Saturday showed protesters occupying streets in the Gisha district, the sound of pots being hit in Punak Square and a crowd marching through the Heravi district, chanting anti-theocratic slogans.
Iranian President Massoud Pezheskian blamed the US and Israel for the unrest, claiming – without providing evidence – that they “trained people inside and outside the country, brought in terrorists, burned mosques and attacked markets and guilds in Rast.”
However, footage verified by BBC Persian and BBC Verify confirms that Iranian security forces are firing on gatherings of protesters in areas including Tehran, the western province of Kermanshah and the southern region of Bushehr. Videos from the city of Ilam show gunfire in the direction of Imam Khomeini Hospital, where a rally was taking place.
Online blackout
Internet access in Iran has been restricted almost exclusively to an internal network, with few connections to the outside world, and for the first time the authorities have severely restricted even those. Experts estimate the blackout to be more severe than that during the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising in 2022. Internet researcher Alireza Manafi said the only possible communication outlet is via the Starlink satellite system, warning, however, that such connections could be detected by authorities.
On Sunday, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, said in a social media post that Trump had “watched closely the untold courage” of the protesters and pledged that he would “soon be with them.” He also claimed the regime was facing a “severe shortage of mercenaries” and that many members of the armed and security forces were refusing to carry out orders, claims the BBC could not confirm.
Protests in Britain
In the UK, videos on social media reportedly showed protesters removing the Iranian flag from the balcony of the Iranian embassy in London on both Saturday and Sunday. According to Iranian state media, Tehran summoned the British ambassador for an explanation.
The current protests are the most widespread since the 2022 uprising, sparked by , a young Kurdish woman who died in moral police custody. Then, according to human rights organizations, more than 550 people were killed and about 20,000 were arrested.
State television shows a different picture
Thousands of Iranians flooded a large square in central Tehran today to show their support for the Islamic Republic and pay tribute to members of the security forces who died during anti-regime protests, according to images broadcast on state television.
People carrying the flag of the Islamic Republic flooded Engelab Square, or Revolution Square, where prayers were offered for the victims of what the government called “riots”.
JUST IN: LARGE CROWDS GATHER FOR PRO-REGIME RALLIES ACROSS IRANIAN CITIES IN SUPPORT OF KHAMENEI
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman)
“It is unacceptable to kill people who are protesting peacefully for their freedom”
“It is absolutely unacceptable that people protesting peacefully for their freedom are arrested and killed,” European Commission press chief Paola Pino said when asked about the protests in Iran, expressing her solidarity with the “extremely brave citizens of Iran – women, men and young people – who are protesting for their freedom.” At the same time, Mrs. Pino referred to the statements of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who requested the immediate release of all the imprisoned protesters and the restoration of full access to the internet.
For his part, the representative of the Commission, in charge of foreign policy matters, Anwar El Anouni, said that “we are ready to propose new, stricter sanctions after the violent suppression of the protests”, which will complement the framework of sanctions that have already been included in individuals and entities in previous years. As he pointed out, the decision belongs to the member states and requires unanimity in the Council.
During the regular press conference, Mr. El Anouni was also asked about the sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), saying that “the EU has already put the entire Corps under the sanctions regime for weapons of mass destruction. This entails freezing assets and prohibiting the provision of financial resources. In addition, IRGC individuals and entities have been implicated in human rights abuses, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program, and support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”
Finally, regarding the possible inclusion in the list of terrorist organizations of the EU, the discussions between the member states are ongoing, as he emphasized and clarified that “any such decision requires unanimity”.
