Iran latest: Tehran says 2,000 killed in protests as US citizens told to leave now ahead of Trump military decision

US Central Command said today that it and regional partners are boosting cooperation on air defence at the US’s largest base in the Middle East.

CENTCOM said it had opened a new coordination cell with partners at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to “enhance integrated air and missile defence”.

“This is a significant step forward in strengthening regional defence cooperation,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.

“This cell will improve how regional forces coordinate and share air and missile defence responsibilities across the Middle East.”

The cell will also be responsible for sharing information and threat warnings, CENTCOM reported.

Iran has also issued fresh threats against US bases in the region as Donald Trump weighs strikes.

An Iranian protester faces the death penalty over his involvement in recent demonstrations, according to a report.

A source close to the family of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani told Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights that relatives have been informed he faces the death penalty on Wednesday, 14 January.

Mr Soltani was arrested on 8 January in Fardis, Karaj, according to the report. The source alleged that Mr Soltani did not have a trial and it was unclear what charges he faced.

Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will “swiftly” propose more sanctions on Iran, while condemning the regime’s “excessive” violence against protesters.

The European Commission president said: “The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and continued restriction of freedom.”

“Further sanctions on those responsible for the repression will be swiftly proposed.”

Verifiable figures on casualties have been hard to come by in this fast-moving situation, with the internet blackout still in place.

An Iranian official said today that around 2,000 people have been killed.

As a reminder, the regime has been warning civilians against joining in the demonstrations and blaming violence on ‘rioters’ provoked by foreign adversaries during its crackdown.

US-based HRANA’s latest report, for Monday, concluded that at least 646 people have been killed in 16 days of protest, including 505 protestors.

133 military and law enforcement personnel had also been killed, HRANA said, and seven non-protesting civilians. 579 reports of deaths were under review.

The internet blackout was “effectively eliminating independent access to information”, it caveated.

The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights group reported on Monday that at least 648 people have died. It estimated that the toll could be as high as 6,000.

An Iranian official has just claimed that around 2,000 people have been killed in the Iran protests.

The anonymous official told Reuters that “terrorists” were to blame for the deaths of civilians and security personnel.

Tehran maintains that fatal clashes between the government and anti-regime protesters have been stoked by foreign adversaries.

Donald Trump has made waves with his strongman approach to diplomacy in the last two weeks.

The takedown of longtime Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro at the start of the month showed he was serious about using force to achieve his objectives.

Allies subsequently took threats against Greenland at face value. Trump said he’d rather buy the territory than take it.

Now, he is said to be considering action against Iran.

Anonymous US officials have told the media that Trump is (again) weighing strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities among a range of options, including an anti-regime propaganda campaign and a cyber attack of sorts.

He also seems to be open to negotiating. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said private messages from Tehran showed a willingness to engage in talks.

“I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” she said. “However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran.”

Iran has not responded directly but says it remains “open to diplomacy”.

Germany’s Friedrich Merz said today he believes the Iranian regime is living through its “final days and weeks”.

The Chancellor told reporters: “If a regime can only keep itself in power by force, then it’s effectively at the end. I believe we are now seeing the final days and weeks of this regime.”

He added that he hopes there will be a way to “end this conflict peacefully”.

Merz is currently on a visit to India.