TRANSCRIPT:
Anti-government protests in Iran are now entering a third week, continuing even after internet access and telephone lines were cut on Thursday.
The demonstrations began on the 28th of December over the collapse of the Iranian rial, which currently trades at over 1.4 million rial to one US dollar.
The US-based rights group Human Rights Activists News Agency says in just 15 days, it has verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested.
The semiofficial Tasnim news agency is reporting twice that number, with 109 security personnel killed in the protests across the country.
Footage of funeral processions for security force members has been broadcast on Iran's State TV.
Skylar Thompson, Deputy Director at Human Rights Activists in Iran, says the scale of the government's crackdown on protesters is extraordinary.
"We have seen the use of lethal force indiscriminately against protesters and we have evidence of close range gunshot wounds. We have evidence of tear-gassing. We have evidence of military grade weapons being deployed on individuals protesting in the streets, and this is absolutely unacceptable. It's a serious violation of not only international law, but it's something that the international community must condemn."
Iranian authorities have sought to distinguish between what they deem legitimate protests over Iran's dire economy, and those they call "rioters", who they allege are backed by the United States and Israel.
Iranian Police Chief Ahmed Reza Radan has vowed to step up the police response to those he says are violent agitators.
"From now on, the police consider the situation to be one of violent unrest only and will deal with violent rioters decisively, swiftly and forcefully. Protesters should also be aware that by standing alongside violent agitators, they themselves become victims of the violence caused by these agitators."
US President Donald Trump has shown support for the protesters, saying the US stands ready to help.
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said he supports protesters' struggle for freedom and strongly condemns the killing of civilians.
Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, says the US and Israel are deliberately inflaming the situation.
"Protest is the right of the people and we are obliged to respond to their protests. But unrest and attacks on public places, setting fire to mosques, burning the Book of God … this is clearly a plan by the United States and Israel. The people can see it. This is Israel speaking of humanity, while at the same time inflicting such suffering on human beings."
President Trump has said the US is willing to strike Iran, and there are reports citing US officials suggesting he has been given military options for such a strike, but hasn't made a final decision.
Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, has warned Iran may regard the US military and Israel as legitimate targets if the US carries out strikes on Iran.
Hundreds of people gathered in Washington to voice their opposition to the Iranian government.
An activist says protesters are seeking support from the United States.
"They're not settling for theocracy, they're not going back to a dictatorship which they once overthrew. Now is the time to stand on the side of the people of Iran for their freedom. They're not asking for foreign boots on the ground or money. All they need is support on their side."
About 2,000 people gathered at a rally in London in a show of solidarity with protesters in Iran, and hundreds of demonstrators marched through central Paris to show their support.
78-year-old Iranian-born man Michel Mohkam was among those in Paris.
“Our hope is for the regime to change and we can return there, and for Iran to again become a normal country in all aspects, for the people to be able to make progress with others in the world.”
