At least 35 killed, more than 1,200 detained as Iran protests enter tenth day

At least 35 people have been killed in the ongoing protests in Iran, which entered their tenth day on Tuesday, according to human rights activists.

The Human Rights Activist News Agency said on Monday that more than 1,200 people have been detained during the unrest, which erupted in late December in response to spiralling economic conditions.

The US-based organisation said 29 protesters, four children and two members of Iran's security forces have been killed during the demonstrations.

Gatherings have been recorded in 88 cities across most of the country's provinces, it said.

HRANA was established in 2009 by Iranian human rights advocates and relies on a network of activists on the ground for its information.

The semi-official Fars news agency said on Monday that almost 300 members of Iran's security forces had been injured in the violence, including some 250 police officers and 45 members of the Basij – the Revolutionary Guard's volunteer paramilitary group.

The protests are the largest in the country since 2022, when nationwide demonstrations erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.

They were sparked after the Iranian rial plunged to record lows on the back of Western and UN sanctions that threaten to devastate the economy.

HRANA said it had obtained reports of security forces using live ammunition, as well as tear gas and arrests, to quell the protests.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran in response to the protests, saying on Friday that if it "violently kills peaceful protesters", the US "will come to their rescue".

Message to Tehran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to tell Iran that Israel does not intend to start a new war, according to Israeli media.

Netanyahu asked the Russian leader to convey the message in recent weeks amid fears that Tehran may launch a preemptive strike against Israel, public broadcaster Kan reported on Monday.

Speculation has risen in recent weeks that Israel could launch fresh strikes against Iran's nuclear and missile sites.

Netanyahu, internationally wanted for war crimes in Gaza, travelled to the US in late December, where he reportedly sought Trump's backing for a renewed attack.

US news media reported ahead of the visit that the prime minister planned to brief Trump on a range of attack plans should Iran refuse to dismantle its missile programme.

The Iranian government has long refused to negotiate reducing its missile capabilities.

Israel started a 12-day war with Iran in June, striking hundreds of military and civilian sites and killing dozens of military personnel and nuclear scientists. Iran responded by launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel.

The US joined the attack with strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites before Trump forced the two sides to agree on a ceasefire.

Netanyahu told the Knesset on Monday that an Iranian attack would have "grave consequences".