According to international broadcaster Al Jazeera, Iranian state television reported on Sunday that 30 police and security personnel were killed in Isfahan province, while six others lost their lives in the western province of Kermanshah. The semi-official Tasnim news agency stated that a total of 109 security personnel have been killed nationwide since the protests began.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that one of its staff members was killed during an attack on a relief building in Gorgan, the capital of Golestan province. State media also said that a mosque was set on fire on Saturday night in the eastern city of Mashhad.

These casualties have been reported at a time when Iranian authorities are intensifying efforts to control what are described as the largest protests in the country in recent years. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest rising inflation, soaring prices, and severe economic pressure.

Iran’s Ministry of Interior has said that the “riots” are gradually subsiding, while the attorney general has warned that those involved in unrest could face the death penalty. On Saturday, senior security official Ali Larijani accused some demonstrators of killing people and burning others alive, comparing their actions to those of ISIS.

Hassan Ahmadian, an academic at Tehran University, told Al Jazeera that the demonstrations, which began two weeks ago, turned violent on Thursday, describing it as one of the scariest days for Iran, including Tehran. He said that protest activity has declined over the past two days as clashes occurred with violent elements, prompting many people to distance themselves from such actions. He added that while most Iranians are unhappy with the country’s economic situation, they also reject violence.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview on Sunday that the United States and Israel want to “spread chaos and disorder” in Iran. He urged Iranians to distance themselves from what he described as “rioters and terrorists,” while also addressing economic plans and public demands.

Speaking in parliament on Sunday, Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned the United States against a “miscalculation” following threats of military action by US President Donald Trump. He said that if Iran were attacked, Israel—referred to as the “occupied territories”—along with all US bases and ships would be considered legitimate targets.

It is worth recalling that last year Iran faced a 12-day war with Israel and the United States after Israel launched a sudden attack in June, followed by US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Hundreds of civilians, military commanders, and scientists were killed in those attacks. Iran retaliated by launching hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, killing 28 people.

The current wave of anti-government protests in Iran has been fueled by a severe economic crisis caused by Western sanctions. The demonstrations began in late December and are being described as the largest since the 2022–23 protest movement triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi said that Qalibaf’s remarks represent, at least rhetorically, a new level of escalation. He reported that some lawmakers in parliament chanted “Death to America.”

Asadi said Iranian authorities are attempting to draw a distinction between protesters and what they call “rioters” or “saboteurs,” a term previously used by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He added that officials are acknowledging the genuine economic hardships faced by the public and that Qalibaf recognized peaceful protest as a legitimate right.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States is “ready to help” protesters in Iran. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he wrote that Iran may be moving toward freedom like never before. His comments followed a warning a day earlier in which he said Iran was in “big trouble” and that he could order strikes if necessary, clarifying that this would not mean deploying ground troops but delivering very hard blows “where it hurts the most.”

Meanwhile, a nationwide internet blackout in Iran has continued for more than 60 hours. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said the censorship poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of Iranians at a critical moment for the country’s future.

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Iran’s police chief, Ahmad Reza Radan, said the scope of operations against rioters has been expanded. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Iranian army said it would confront attempts by Israel and “hostile terrorist groups” to undermine public security. The army said that under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, it will protect national interests, strategic infrastructure, and public property at all costs.

Human rights organizations have urged restraint. According to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights, at least 51 protesters—including nine children—have been killed by security forces so far, while hundreds have been injured and large numbers arrested.