Human rights activists reported on Tuesday that the death toll from ongoing protests in Iran has climbed to at least 35, including 29 protesters, four children, and two security force members, as demonstrations fueled by severe economic hardship continue unabated across the country. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, drawing from a network of sources inside Iran with a track record of reliable reporting during past upheavals, also documented over 1,200 detentions in the unrest that has persisted for more than a week.

The protests, which have spread to more than 250 locations across 27 of Iran's 31 provinces, represent the most significant challenge to authorities since the nationwide uprising in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. While not yet matching the intensity or breadth of those earlier demonstrations, the current wave—triggered by the rial's collapse to around 1.4 million against the dollar in December amid tightening sanctions and post-war recovery struggles—shows persistent momentum despite official warnings.

Iranian state-aligned media, such as the semiofficial Fars news agency linked to the Revolutionary Guard, acknowledged injuries to approximately 250 police officers and 45 Basij volunteers, underscoring the clashes' toll on security personnel. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently declared that "rioters must be put in their place," yet the gatherings persist, with limited state coverage and online footage providing fragmented views of street confrontations and occasional gunfire.

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International attention intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that America would "come to their rescue" if Iranian forces violently suppressed peaceful demonstrators, a statement that drew sharp rebukes from Tehran officials threatening regional repercussions. The timing gained added weight following the recent U.S. military operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key Iranian ally.

Monitoring the protests remains challenging due to restrictions on journalists, including requirements for travel permissions and risks of detention, leaving much of the situation reliant on activist reports and unverified social media glimpses as the economic grievances deepen into broader discontent.

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