Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:12pm on 12 Jan 2026,Monday International
At least 648 people have died in Iran during a crackdown on anti-government protests, according to the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights. The group said the toll could be higher because a nationwide internet shutdown is blocking checks. The protests began after Iran’s currency lost value and prices rose. US President Donald Trump said Washington was weighing “very strong options” if protesters were harmed. After the remarks, Iran’s supreme leader accused the United States of “deceit” and said unrest was driven by “treacherous mercenaries”. State media aired images of pro-government rallies. Most foreign media cannot report from inside Iran due to access limits. (PC: BBC)
