At Least 45 Killed, More Than 2,000 Arrested In Iran Protests, Says Rights Group

Demonstrators gathered in cities across the country chanting “Death to the dictator,” as protests and strikes continued in multiple locations, including Kermanshah, Shiraz, Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, Kerman, Sabzevar, Shahrekord, Neyshabur, Qom and Gonabad.

Reports say at least 34 protesters have been killed since the unrest began, while 2,076 people have been detained by Iranian security forces.

The HRANA news agency said protests and labour strikes had spread to 285 locations across 92 cities in 27 provinces by the 10th day of demonstrations.

The unrest, fuelled by economic pressure, soaring inflation and deepening social discontent, marks one of the largest waves of protests in Iran in recent years.

Meanwhile, the British newspaper The Times previously reported, citing an intelligence assessment, that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has considered an emergency plan to leave the country and relocate to Russia should domestic unrest escalate further and security forces fail to contain the protests.

Iranian authorities have not commented publicly on that report and continue to blame foreign actors for inciting unrest.

In a report published on Sunday, HRANA said more than 50 protesters have been wounded by gunfire and at least 990 people have been arrested by Iranian security forces.

Based on updated and verified data, HRANA said the protests have continued to expand despite heightened security measures and an increased deployment of police and security forces in several areas.

The agency said at least 222 locations across Iran have witnessed protests, street demonstrations or labour strikes over the past eight days. Protest activity has also been reported at 17 universities, involving student demonstrators.

The protests, driven by a mix of economic, political and civil demands, entered their ninth day on Monday and have been met with a broad crackdown by forces of the Islamic Republic.

According to HRANA, police and security forces have employed a range of tactics to suppress the demonstrations, including violent confrontations, live fire, tear gas and mass arrests, in an effort to prevent the unrest from spreading further.

Police said the explosives, weighing roughly 2,000 kilograms, were being transported for use in large-scale attacks targeting key locations across the city. The seizure was made during an operation against the Balochistan Liberation Army, according to Pakistani police.

The explosives were discovered and confiscated before they could be deployed, officials said, adding that an investigation into the network behind the shipment was under way.

Pakistani authorities say militant violence in the country has increased since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

The Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies has reported a sharp rise in attacks. In a recent assessment, the institute said Pakistan recorded a 34 precent increase in terrorist incidents in 2025 compared with the previous year.

According to the report, about 700 militant attacks were recorded across Pakistan in 2025, killing at least 1,034 people and injuring hundreds more. The institute said overall insecurity and militant violence in Pakistan have risen significantly since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

Trump said further details would be released shortly.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.”

He said the operation was conducted in cooperation with US law enforcement agencies, adding that additional information would be made public later.

Trump also said a press conference would be held at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday at Mar-a-Lago to provide more details.

US officials and Venezuelan authorities had not independently confirmed Trump’s claims at the time of publication.

The protests entered their sixth day on Friday, January 2, spreading to cities across the country amid a sharp fall in the value of the rial and a deepening economic crisis. Iranian authorities have detained dozens of protesters, and at least seven people have been killed, according to reports.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said US involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would have far-reaching consequences. “We distinguish between the legitimate demands of protesting shopkeepers and destructive elements,” Larijani said. “Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean chaos across the entire region and the destruction of US interests.”

He warned that “the American people should know that Trump has embarked on adventurism,” adding: “They should look after their soldiers.”

Trump said on Friday that if the Islamic Republic “shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”

Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, also issued a warning, saying: “Any intervening hand that approaches Iran’s security will be cut off with a regret-inducing response.” Referring to past US-led wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza, Shamkhani said Iranians were well aware of what Washington’s claims of “rescue” entailed. “Iran’s national security is a red line, not a subject for adventurous tweets,” he added.

Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said the country’s armed forces would respond decisively and without hesitation to any threat, claiming Iran’s defensive capabilities had grown since the 12-day war earlier this year.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also condemned Trump’s remarks, warning that any act of adventurism would make all US bases and forces in the region legitimate targets for Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Iranians would resolve their problems through dialogue among themselves and would not tolerate foreign interference.

The United States maintains military bases across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Qatar. In June 2025, following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities during the 12-day war, Iran launched missile attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

As protests continued on Friday, residents of Zahedan, in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, chanted “Death to the dictator,” according to witnesses. Demonstrations featuring anti-government slogans have taken place in more than 17 provinces in recent days.