Iranian leaders on Wednesday signaled that protesters could soon face expedited trials resulting in executions as anti-government demonstrations persist in Tehran and surrounding cities.
Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said demonstrators could face swift civil action ahead of potential U.S. intervention proposed by President Trump.
“If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,” Mohseni-Ejei said according to The Associated Press, citing a video from Iranian state television.
“If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect,” he added. “If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.”
His comments come a day after Trump called off all meetings with Iranian officials and encouraged protesters that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
More than 2,500 individuals have died as a result of protests the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. So far, 100 security force members have been killed amid the unrest. The death toll outweighs that of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Internet outages and cuts to phone service also delayed international communication and images of the violent events from surfacing globally. Elon Musk’s Starlink was reportedly being used by some in certain areas.
“We are very frightened because of these sounds (of gunfire) and protests,” said one mother of two children shopping for fruits and vegetables Wednesday, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
“We have heard many are killed and many are injured. Now peace has been restored but schools are closed, and I’m scared to send my children to school again,” she added.
Personnel at a U.S. military base in Qatar have been advised to evacuate, according to the wire. While Indian nationals have also been encouraged to flee amid the demonstrations.
“People were out to express themselves and protest, but quickly it turned into a war zone,” Ahmadreza Tavakoli told the outlet. “The people do not have guns. Only the security forces have guns.”
Iranian state media has aired at least 97 confessions from protesters with individuals expressing remorse for their actions, the AP reported. In the past, individuals have been tortured or coerced into admitting there was a foreign plot behind demonstrations in the Islamic Republic.