WORLD NEWS
Iran has vowed fast-track trials for people arrested during nationwide protests, after US President Donald Trump threatened “very strong action” if the Islamic republic proceeds with executions.
Rights groups say the protests, one of the biggest challenges yet to Iran’s clerical leadership, have likely killed thousands. Authorities accuse demonstrators of committing “acts of terror” akin to those of the Islamic State group. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said trials should be held in public and swiftly for individuals accused of burning or killing others.
Trump warned that the US would intervene if Iran started hanging protesters. “When they start killing thousands of people — and now you’re telling me about hanging. We’ll see how that’s going to work out for them,” he said. Tehran called this a “pretext for military intervention.”
Rights groups and Amnesty International have demanded an immediate halt to executions, including that of 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani, the first to be sentenced to death. Over 10,600 Iranians have been arrested since the protests began.
Iran has also warned neighboring countries hosting US troops that it could target American bases if Washington intervenes. Meanwhile, the country remains under a near-total internet blackout, though limited communications have resumed, allowing some Iranians to contact relatives.
International outrage has grown, with France, Germany, the UK, and the EU summoning Iranian ambassadors to express concern. NGO Iran Human Rights estimates at least 734 killed, including minors, but says the real toll is likely in the thousands.
Despite the crackdown, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed pro-government rallies as a warning to the US, claiming that the protests have been defeated. Analysts caution, however, that the demonstrations represent a serious challenge to the regime, highlighting the resilience of Iran’s repressive apparatus.
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