The growing protests in Iran are rooted in economic dissatisfaction, but have quickly grown to target the regime in Tehran.
In videos on social media published by, among others, the UK-based Iran International, crowds in the port city of Bandar Abbas can be heard chanting "death to (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei" and "this is the final blow."
The protests and developments in the country have prompted Australia to warn its citizens in Iran: "If you are in Iran, you should leave as soon as possible," the Australian government announced on Wednesday, warning that further escalation could occur suddenly.
Over 2,000 arrested
On Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the country's security forces not to target peaceful protesters.
At least 27 protesters have been killed by security forces, including five children, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR). US-based HRANA said on Tuesday that at least 36 people have been killed and more than 2,000 have been arrested during the 10-day protests.
At least two more deaths and about 30 injuries were reported by the state-controlled Fars news agency.
"Rioters began throwing stones at police" during a protest by shopkeepers in Lordegan in southwestern Iran, the news agency claimed, adding that protesters opened fire on police.
According to Iranian authorities, members of the security forces have also been killed.
On Tuesday, the capital's most prestigious medical university, Tums, which is affiliated with the hospital in question, said "tear gas was used in the alley next to Sina Hospital" in central Tehran, the pro-regime news agency Isna reports.
Iran threatens to respond to the US
US President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene if protesters are killed in Iran, but has not specified what kind of US intervention that would be. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also expressed support for the protesters.
On Wednesday, Iran's defense minister warned that Iran will not allow itself to be threatened by external powers.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation a threat, and will not tolerate it continuing without responding," Defense Minister Amir Hatami said, according to the state-run Fars news agency.
