Khaberni - A policeman was shot dead in western Iran as the protests continue and enter their tenth day, while western reports revealed the death of 36 people.
On Tuesday, the Iranian Fars News Agency stated: "Ehsan Aghajani (...) was killed a few hours ago after being hit by a bullet fired by riot instigators near Malakshahi," adding that the policeman died in the hospital.
Malakshahi has a population of around 20,000, with a large number of Kurds, and the city witnessed clashes on Saturday that resulted in the death of a security force member.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that "36 people were killed during the protests," noting that "the authorities detained another 1,200," which Tehran has not responded to until 18:21 GMT.
"No Tolerance"
Yesterday Monday, the Iranian judicial authorities emphasized that the judiciary will not show any leniency towards "riot instigators," a warning that came on the ninth day of the protests that began over the cost of living and have expanded to include political demands.
In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that his country would intervene if more civilian protesters are killed in Iran.
The protests began on December 28 in Tehran over rising living costs, before spreading to at least 25 of the 31 provinces and expanding to include political demands.
More than 13 people have been killed since December 30 in scattered clashes, including members of the security forces, according to a tally by France Press based on official data and media reports.
The demonstrations are interspersed with confrontations between security forces and protesters, with images spreading on social media that cannot all be verified, but France Press has managed to verify some of them showing small groups chanting and standing off against security forces.
Trump stated, "We are watching the situation very closely. If they start killing people as they have done in the past, I think they will receive a very strong response from the United States."
Previously, Trump had threatened a few days earlier that his country could intervene in Iran to support the protesters, to which Tehran responded by saying any American intervention would be considered "crossing a red line."
Protests Expand
The protests have affected at least 45 cities, mostly small and medium-sized, especially in western Iran, according to a count by France Press based on official announcements and media.
On Monday, Mizan News Agency reported that the police's security apparatus confiscated a quantity of "weapons, ammunition, and materials used in making explosive devices" in a cache attributed to "riot provocateurs."
On Saturday and Sunday, new clashes broke out between the protesters and security forces, and Fars News Agency reported that political chants were heard on Saturday evening in the capital, such as "Death to the dictator."
Photos taken on Sunday in the city center, verified by France Press, show security forces using tear gas to disperse the protesters.
The situation has been tense in recent days in western Iran, hundreds of kilometers from Tehran, especially in the Malakshahi area, which has a large Kurdish population.
For years, 86 million Iranians have been suffering from rampant inflation in a country burdened by international sanctions linked to its nuclear program, with an average salary of about $180 a month while the minimum wage is around ninety dollars.
The size of the current protests is not comparable to those that erupted late in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini while she was detained by the police for violating strict dress codes.
In 2019, similar protests resulted in the deaths of dozens in Iran after the announcement of a sharp increase in gasoline prices.
