The United States has warned of possible retaliatory measures against Iran amid mounting international concern over reports of mass killings and expedited death sentences linked to nationwide protests. President Donald Trump said Washington would respond forcefully if Iranian authorities proceed with the execution of detained demonstrators, as rights groups continue to document a growing civilian death toll.
Speaking in an interview with CBS News, Trump said the US would take “very strong action” should executions go ahead, referring to reports that some protesters face imminent death sentences. His remarks followed claims by relatives of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who told BBC Persian that Soltani, detained last week, is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday after what they described as a rapid judicial process lasting only two days.
A representative of the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Awyar Shekhi, confirmed to the BBC that the pace of the case was unprecedented, describing it as the fastest capital prosecution the group had observed. He said the case reflected broader efforts by Iranian authorities to deter dissent through fear.
Iranian officials have disputed the scale and character of the violence. One official told Reuters that around 2,000 people had been killed but attributed the deaths to “terrorists”, rather than state action.
Trump said he had convened a White House meeting to review the situation and obtain what he described as “accurate numbers” on casualties arising from the unrest. “Once we have the numbers, we’ll act accordingly,” he told reporters.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had independently verified the deaths of at least 2,403 protesters, including 12 children, despite widespread internet restrictions. The organisation also reported that nearly 150 people affiliated with the government had been killed during the unrest.
Earlier, Trump used his Truth Social platform to condemn the Iranian authorities, warning they would “pay a big price” for the killings and urging demonstrators to continue protesting. He also announced the suspension of meetings with Iranian officials and reiterated his administration’s decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on countries trading with Iran.
Tehran has rejected the US stance, accusing Washington of attempting to create a justification for military intervention and warning that such strategies had failed in the past.
The protests, which have spread to all 31 of Iran’s provinces and an estimated 180 cities and towns, were initially triggered by public anger over currency depreciation and rising living costs. They later expanded into broader calls for political change, marking one of the most significant challenges to Iran’s leadership since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Authorities responded to an escalation in demonstrations last Thursday with force, alongside a near-total shutdown of internet and communications services.
