Jan. 10 (UPI) — Hundreds of protesters likely have been killed as the Iranian government cracks down on spreading civil unrest amid a collapsing economy.
The civil unrest has spread from the capital in Tehran to dozens of Iranian cities, which the Iranian military and security forces are countering with deadly force.
Iranian Army officials on Saturday said they will “firmly safeguard national interests, strategic infrastructure and public property” and blamed Israel and alleged “terrorist” groups for causing the civil unrest, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Security forces in Tehran killed “many people” on Friday night, and an unidentified woman said she saw “bodies piled up on each other” inside a Tehran hospital, according to CNN.
Officials with the Iranian civil rights organization HRANA reported at least 65 people had died as of Friday, including 50 who were protesters and 15 security personnel, but the actual death toll likely is more than 200, the New York Post reported.
The Iranian government severed internet services in the country as the anti-government protests continued to spread and grow in size on Thursday.
In the United States, President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene if Iran kills protesters.
“Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Saturday. “The USA stands ready to help!!!”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the “United States supports the brave people of Iran” in a social media post on Friday night.
Protests started on Dec. 28 as runaway inflation greatly devalued Iran’s currency and triggered protests by shopkeepers and others, which have spread to more than 100 cities over the past two weeks.
Supporting protests also are being held in many major cities in Europe and elsewhere.
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