Trump threatens U.S. intervention if Iran violently suppresses ongoing protests, escalating tensions after last year's 12-day war between Israel and Iran.

It was only a matter of time until such gloom gave rise to another round of mass protest. The only question was what would trigger it. It came from an unlikely corner on December 28th, when electronics vendors in Tehran went on strike.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for dialogue with protest leaders over the cost-of-living crisis and speaking before Trump’s threat, said failings by the authorities were behind the economic crisis and “it is us who have to find a solution.”

Demonstrations sparked by Iran's struggling economy have spread into rural provinces, with at least seven people killed.

Among the real images being shared we’re also seeing footage that has been faked or enhanced using artificial intelligence. Some of these images are being shared widely - we’ll bring you more on how we’re checking for signs of AI use as part of our verification work.

Anti-regime protests entered a fifth day as demonstrations spread across Tehran and other cities, with reports of deaths emerging amid escalating nationwide unrest.