Iran Protests: Iran State TV admits high death toll; Trump warns of ‘very strong action’ if Iran hangs protesters

Iran protests LIVE: Elon Musk’s SpaceX is offering free Starlink satellite internet service in Iran as deadly protests continue and authorities maintain a days-long blackout.

SpaceX has waived Starlink subscription fees for users in Iran, allowing anyone with a receiver to access the service without charge, according to Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the US -based group Holistic Resilience, which helps Iranians obtain internet access, Bloomberg reported.

A person familiar with Starlink’s operations confirmed the move, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been made public.

Iran protests LIVE: "I haven't heard about the hanging. If they hang them, you're going to see some things... We will take very strong action if they do such a thing," Trump told CBS News

Iran protests LIVE: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi on Tuesday to discuss the latest regional and international developments, a Turkish foreign ministry source said, Reuters reported.

Iran protests LIVE: The European Union on Tuesday summoned Iran’s ambassador in Brussels over Tehran’s handling of nationwide protests, an EU official said on condition of anonymity, AFP reported.

Earlier in the day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was moving “swiftly” toward preparing additional sanctions against Iran, citing the “horrifying” number of people reported killed and injured during the government’s crackdown.

Iran protests LIVE: "Those who plan to use externally inspired unrest as a pretext for repeating the aggression against Iran committed in June 2025 must be aware of the disastrous consequences of such actions for the situation in the Middle East and global international security," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran protests LIVE: US President Donald Trump declined to clarify what he meant by his social media message saying “help is on its way” to Iranian protesters, telling reporters they would have to “figure that one out,” as he spoke in Detroit during a visit focused on the economy.

Iran protests LIVE: Trump’s envoy held a secret meeting with Iran’s exiled crown prince, Axios reported.

Iran protests LIVE: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Tuesday voiced Doha’s support for “all efforts aimed at de-escalation and peaceful solutions” during a phone call with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, Reuters reported.

Iran protests LIVE: Iran's state TV gave the first official acknowledgment of the high death toll in Iran amid the government's crackdown on protests, while saying the country had a “lot of martyrs”, AP reported.

The report quoted Ahmad Mousavi, the head of the Martyrs Foundation, with the anchor reading a statement which said that “terrorist groups” had led the country “to present a lot of martyrs to God.”

Iran protests LIVE: Several countries, including Germany, France, Portugal, Belgium, Finland, and Czechia, summoned Iran's ambassador to their countries on Tuesday over the killings of Iranian protestors, Iran International reported.

Iran protests LIVE: The European Union is discussing additional sanctions on Iran, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday.

“The courage of the Iranian people is humbling. The brutal response by the security forces is unacceptable and exposes a regime afraid of its own people. The EU already has sweeping sanctions in place on Iran. We are now discussing putting additional sanctions,” Kaja Kallas said.

Iran protests LIVE: United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged protestors in Iran to “take over institutions” in the country. “Iran patriots, keep protesting…help is on its way,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

“Save the names of the killers and abusers,” Trump said, while adding that the regime would “pay a big price.” Trump said he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials till “the senseless killing of protestors stops.”

Iran protests LIVE: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has threatened to reciprocate European restrictions on Tehran. In a post on X, Araghchi said Iran does not “seek enmity” with the European Union, “but will reciprocate any restriction.”

This came a day after the European Parliament decided to ban Iranian diplomats and representatives. On this, Araghchi criticised EU for not taking any significant action against Israel for its two-year war in Gaza.

Iran protests LIVE: Ireland on Tuesday said it was postponing a ceremony to allow Iran's new ambassador in Dublin to present his credentials amid Iran's crackdown on protestors.

An Irish foreign ministry spokesperson told AFP news agency that the decision to “postpone the ceremony of credentials for the ambassador-designate of the Islamic Republic of Iran was taken in light of protests in Iran in recent days.” The statement highlighted “very significant numbers of Iranians” being killed and injured and the “communications blackout” in Iran.

Iran protests LIVE: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi said the authorities in Iran had imposed a communications blackout to hide killings in the country.

“Cutting the internet, paralyzing communications, intimidating witnesses and shutting down media means the government wants to carry out the killing in silence and then erase its traces,” Iran International cited Ebadi as saying.

Iran protests LIVE: European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen on Tuesday said the rising number of casualties in Iran was “horrifying”, while vowing sanctions against those responsible for the deaths.

“The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and continued restriction of freedom. The European Union has already listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety under its human rights sanctions regime,” Von Der Leyen said in a post on X.

“In close cooperation with HRVP @kajakallas, further sanctions on those responsible for the repression will be swiftly proposed. We stand with the people of Iran who are bravely marching for their liberty,” Von Der Leyen added.

Iran protests LIVE: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi criticised Germany after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran's regime was in its “final days.”

“Do us all a favor: have some shame. Better yet, Germany should end its unlawful interference in our region—including its support for Genocide and Terrorism,” Araghchi said in a post on X.

Iran protests LIVE: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has alleged that the regime in Iran, which has been witnessed protests for over two weeks now, is in its “final days.”

“When a regime can only hold on to power through violence, it is effectively finished,” Merz, who is in India for a two-day visit, told reporters, Bloomberg reported. “I believe that we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime,” the German Chancellor said. Merz is the first Group of Seven leader to predict the downfall of the Iranian regime, Bloomberg reported.

The protests began in late December with merchants in Tehran before spreading. While initially focused on economic issues, protesters soon began chanting anti-government statements as well. Anger has been simmering over the years, particularly after the 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, which triggered nationwide demonstrations.

Apex exporters' body FIEO on Tuesday said US President Donald Trump's announcement to impose 25 per cent duty on countries doing business with Iran will almost have no impact on India.

Trump has announced that any country doing business with Iran will have to pay a 25 per cent tariff on its trade with Washington, a move that could impact Tehran's major trading partners such as India, China and the UAE.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said that Indian companies and banks are in full and demonstrable compliance of OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctions on Iran, engaging exclusively in clearly permitted humanitarian trade, mainly in food and pharmaceuticals.

"There is, therefore, no basis to anticipate any adverse impact on India," FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said.

Qatar said on Tuesday that a military escalation between the United States and Iran would have grave consequences for the region.

This comes after Washington threatened strikes in response to a government crackdown on protests in the Islamic republic of Iran.

"We know that any escalation... would have catastrophic results in the region and beyond, and therefore we want to avoid that as much as possible," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference in Doha, AFP reported.

An Iranian official told Reuters that about 2,000 people were killed during the ongoing stir, blaming “terrorists” for the deaths.

Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an advisory for Iran as protests continue to rise, with authorities resorting to the use of force.

In the wake of the situation, the Foreign Ministry said, "Nepali citizens currently living and working in Iran are advised to follow the security advisory of the competent authorities of Iran, stay indoors, remain alert, and exercise caution."

The ministry also urged its citizens to halt travel amid the ongoing unrest. "Likewise, the Ministry urges all Nepali citizens planning to travel to Iran to avoid their plan until the situation in the country returns to normal," the Foreign Ministry added.

The Nepali Foreign Ministry has also issued emergency contact details for its citizens to seek assistance.

For emergency assistance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kathmandu, can be contacted on 977-014200182-85 / 977-9862678437 or via email at waa@mofa.gov.np.

The ministry can also be reached on 977-14200480 / 977-9851354565 or through email at informationofficer@mofa.gov.np.

The Embassy of Nepal in Doha can be contacted on 974-6621 4419 or via email at eondoha@mofa.gov.np.

An Iranian parliamentarian said on Tuesday the government will face even bigger protests unless it addresses people's grievances, after more than two weeks of nationwide demonstrations that have challenged the legitimacy of the country's clerical rulers.

"We should not forget one point: people have dissatisfactions and officials in government and parliament needs to solve them, otherwise the same events will occur with greater intensity," Mohammadreza Sabaghian, who represents several counties in central Yazd province, said during a parliamentary session, Reuters reported.