Deaths linked to nationwide protests in Iran have risen to more than 500, according to a U.S.-based rights group HRANA, as Tehran warned it would retaliate against U.S. military targets if Washington intervenes.
HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel during two weeks of unrest, citing activists inside and outside Iran. More than 10,600 people have been arrested. Iranian authorities have not released an official toll, and the figures could not be independently confirmed.
The protests began on 28 December over rising prices and quickly turned into broader demonstrations against Iran’s clerical leadership, the biggest since 2022.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned of possible U.S. action if force is used against protesters. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is due to be briefed this week on options that include military strikes, cyber operations, tougher sanctions and online support for opposition groups.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf cautioned Washington against what he called a ‘miscalculation’, saying any attack on Iran would make U.S. bases, ships and Israel legitimate targets.
Israel, which fought a 12-day war with Iran last year alongside limited U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, has raised its alert level. Israeli officials say they view the protests as an internal Iranian issue but are monitoring developments closely and are ready to respond if needed.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s enemies were behind the unrest, accusing them of bringing in ‘terrorists’ who attacked mosques, banks and public property. He urged families to keep young people away from violence, while saying the government was ready to listen to public grievances and address economic problems.
Opposition figures abroad have urged Iranians to keep protesting. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, praised what he called the courage of protesters, while Maryam Rajavi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran said demonstrators were reshaping the country’s political landscape.
At least 35 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain on Wednesday, in the second deadly rail disaster in less tha...
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new proposal to end the war with the U.S. and Israel, with Tehran expected to respond by the end of the...
Despite losing his bloc's majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset in a hotly contested election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has manage...
Despite losing his bloc's majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset in a hotly contested election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to remain in the lead after 70 per cent of votes were tallied on Wednesday. Figures are subject to change as counting continues.
Russia and Ukraine have begun a regional ceasefire to allow the start of a humanitarian effort in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, both sides said on Tuesday, but they continue strikes elsewhere, including the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Russian strikes hit several parts of Ukraine overnight, injuring at least six people and targeting energy and port infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile attacks had resumed.
Nearly two years after the 20 October 2024 parliamentary elections, Iraq’s Kurdistan Region remains without a cabinet. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 of 100 seats and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 23, leaving neither able to govern alone.
The Pentagon is prepared to launch potentially major military operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from U.S. President Donald Trump, with sufficient forces already deployed in the Middle East, according to a CNN report.
At least 35 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain on Wednesday, in the second deadly rail disaster in less than a year on a major route linking Madrid with the southern Andalusia region.
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new proposal to end the war with the U.S. and Israel, with Tehran expected to respond by the end of the week, according to an official briefed on the negotiations.
Despite losing his bloc's majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset in a hotly contested election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to remain in the lead after 70 per cent of votes were tallied on Wednesday. Figures are subject to change as counting continues.
Turkmenistan Airlines has increased flights to key international destinations, including Seoul, Milan, Kazan and Istanbul, as the Central Asian country moves to meet rising travel demand and strengthen its global aviation links.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 October 2026, exploring five election stories shaping world politics, from leadership struggles in Israel and mounting economic pressures to election security concerns in the U.S. and political fallout in Brazil.
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