Donald Trump has warned that the United States will take “very strong action” if Iran carries out executions of anti-government protesters, as rights groups report a rapidly escalating death toll under Tehran’s harsh crackdown.
More than 2,400 protesters have been killed across Iran, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Among those at imminent risk is 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, detained last week and reportedly sentenced to death after what relatives say was a two-day process with no proper legal access.
Soltani’s family told BBC Persian they fear he could be executed without warning. Internet shutdowns have left families unable to communicate with detainees or seek updates. His sister, a lawyer, was reportedly blocked from intervening in his case.
A representative from the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights said they had “never witnessed a case move so quickly,” arguing that the rapid sentencing shows the state is trying to crush dissent by fear.
In an interview with CBS News, Trump said: “If they hang them, you’re going to see some things. We will take very strong action if they do such a thing.” The president is seeking updated, verified casualty figures and said he will “act accordingly” once he receives them.
Iran, meanwhile, has blamed “terrorists” for the deaths. An official told Reuters that 2,000 people had been killed but shifted responsibility onto protesters.
The unrest has spread to more than 180 cities and towns across all 31 provinces, fuelled by anger over a collapsing currency, rising living costs and deep political frustration. Demonstrations surged last Thursday and were met with lethal force amid a near-total internet blackout that has now lasted more than five days.
Hospitals in Tehran are overwhelmed, with doctors describing conditions that resemble a warzone as they struggle with shortages of blood and medical supplies. Videos verified by BBC Persian show lines of bodies at the Kahrizak Forensic Centre, where families searched through rows of shrouds for missing relatives.
Trump, escalating pressure on Tehran, has already announced 25 percent tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. He posted on Truth Social that Iranian authorities would “pay a big price” for killing protesters, vowing that “help is on its way.” He also said he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the crackdown stops.
Iran’s government has accused the US of trying to create a pretext for military intervention, warning Washington that “this playbook has failed before.”
UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged Tehran to stop all violence against protesters and condemned attempts to portray them as “terrorists.” Prosecutors in Iran have already signalled that some detainees will be charged with “enmity against God,” a capital offence under national security laws.
With communications restricted, checkpoints set up across major cities and hundreds reportedly injured or killed in recent days, the full scale of the crackdown remains difficult to confirm. But videos verified by the BBC from Arak, Tabriz, Urmia and Khorramabad show gunfire, street clashes and crowds chanting against the country’s leadership.
For now, families of detainees and international observers wait anxiously for news – and for Washington’s next move.