Iran unrest escalates as death toll crosses 2,500; Trump warns Tehran, says ‘help is on the way’

Tensions in Iran continued to escalate on Tuesday as activists reported that the death toll from nationwide protests has surpassed 2,500, amid mounting international pressure and sharp warnings from the United States.

US President Donald Trump warned the Iranian leadership over the killing of protesters, urging demonstrators to continue their movement and assuring them that “help is on its way.” His remarks came as Tehran partially eased communication restrictions, allowing limited outbound phone calls for the first time in days, though internet access and SMS services largely remained blocked.

According to The Associated Press, people inside Iran were able to make phone calls abroad, but incoming international calls were still not possible. Internet users remained cut off from the outside world, with access restricted to government-approved domestic websites.

Latest developments

Death toll rises:
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said the death toll has climbed to at least 2,571. Iranian state television acknowledged “a lot of martyrs” in the unrest, quoting Ahmad Mousavi, head of the Martyrs Foundation, who blamed “armed and terrorist groups” for the violence.

Trump urges protests to continue:
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called on Iranians to “KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS,” adding that he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops. “HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” he wrote.

Call for ‘humanity’:
Trump said he was consulting his national security team to assess the situation and described the reported killings as “significant.” He accused Tehran of “badly misbehaving” and urged Iranian authorities to “show humanity.”

Iran accuses US of incitement:
Iran hit back, accusing Trump of encouraging violence and threatening its sovereignty. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Iran’s ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the US and Israel bore “direct and undeniable legal responsibility” for civilian deaths.

Warning of ‘strong action’:
Trump told CBS News that the US would take “very strong action” if Iranian authorities carry out executions of protesters, adding, “I like winning.”

Tehran alleges push for intervention:
Iran’s UN mission accused Washington of seeking a pretext for military intervention, saying US policy was rooted in regime change through sanctions, threats and “engineered unrest.”

War of words intensifies:
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, named Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the “main killers” of Iranians in a post on X.

Diplomatic fallout grows:
Several European countries, including Finland, the Netherlands, France and Germany, summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest the crackdown, internet shutdowns and use of force against demonstrators.

UK and EU announce sanctions:
The UK and European Union unveiled new sanctions targeting Iranian officials and key sectors. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the rising casualties were “horrifying” and condemned the excessive use of force.

UN appeals for restraint:
UN human rights chief Volker Türk called on Iran to immediately halt violence against peaceful protesters and stop labelling them as “terrorists,” stressing that Iranians have the right to protest and be heard.

As unrest continues and international pressure builds, Iran faces growing diplomatic isolation amid one of the deadliest periods of internal dissent in recent years.