DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s judiciary chief on Wednesday signaled that authorities would move swiftly to try and potentially execute suspects detained in nationwide protests, as the reported death toll from a sweeping security crackdown surpassed 2,500.
Judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said in remarks aired on Iranian state television that trials and punishments must be carried out quickly to have an effect, comments that came amid warnings from activists that executions could begin soon.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,571 people have been killed since demonstrations erupted late last month, making the current unrest the deadliest round of protests in Iran in decades and evoking comparisons to the turmoil surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The group said 2,403 of those killed were protesters, while 147 were government-affiliated personnel. It also reported the deaths of 12 children and nine civilians not taking part in demonstrations, and said more than 18,100 people have been detained.
Mohseni-Ejei’s comments appeared to directly challenge warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Washington could take “very strong action” if Iran proceeds with executions of protesters. Trump has repeatedly criticized Tehran over the deaths of demonstrators, months after the United States bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a brief but intense conflict launched by Israel in June.
“If we want to do a job, we should do it now,” Mohseni-Ejei said in the video. “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect.”
Iranian authorities on Wednesday held a mass funeral for about 100 security force members killed during the unrest, a figure lower than an earlier official claim of 300. Tens of thousands of mourners attended the ceremony, waving Iranian flags and holding portraits of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Coffins draped in national flags were stacked several layers high and adorned with flowers and framed photographs.
Despite a reduced visible presence of anti-riot police and the paramilitary Basij in some areas, residents said fear remained widespread. Plainclothes security forces were still reported in several neighborhoods.
“We are very frightened because of these sounds of gunfire and protests,” said a mother of two in Tehran, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “We have heard many are killed and many are injured. Now peace has been restored but schools are closed and I’m scared to send my children to school again.”
Another resident, Ahmadreza Tavakoli, 36, said he witnessed a demonstration in Tehran and was shocked by the use of live firearms. “People were out to express themselves and protest, but quickly it turned into a war zone,” he told The Associated Press. “The people do not have guns. Only the security forces have guns.”
Regional concerns have also intensified. An Arab Gulf diplomat said several Middle Eastern governments were urging the Trump administration to avoid military action against Iran, warning that such a move could trigger “unprecedented consequences” and escalate into a wider regional war. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.
The protests began on Dec. 28, initially driven by the collapse of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions under international sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear program. As unrest spread, the government imposed a near-total internet blackout and cut international phone calls on Jan. 8, complicating efforts to independently verify casualty figures.
Activists said access to the satellite internet service Starlink has helped some Iranians bypass the shutdown. Mehdi Yahyanejad, a Los Angeles-based activist, said free Starlink subscriptions were functioning inside the country and had been tested using newly activated terminals. Starlink did not immediately comment.
Meanwhile, residents in northern Tehran reported that security forces were searching apartment buildings for satellite dishes, including Starlink equipment. While satellite television dishes are technically illegal in Iran, enforcement has been inconsistent in recent years.
With communications still restricted and foreign media largely barred, independent verification of events inside Iran remains difficult, even as international scrutiny over the government’s response to the unrest continues to mount.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
