Iran holds funerals for protest victims
State honors dead as unrest and tensions escalate
The Iranian government held funeral processions for those it said had been killed in recent protests. State media reported that the procession took place for civilians and security personnel killed in the recent unrest.
A huge crowd of mourners filled the streets near Tehran University to attend the funeral of 100 members of the security forces and other martyrs killed during recent foreign-backed riots in Iran.
Caskets draped with Iranian flags were stacked on the back of large trucks and covered with red-and-white roses and framed images of those killed.
With the nighttime footage released in recent days and weeks on social media showing thousands marching in protest against economic conditions and the country's clerical rulers.
Tehran has warned neighbors hosting U.S. troops that it would hit American bases if Washington strikes. It comes as Iran seeks to deter President Donald Trump's threats to intervene on behalf of protesters.
In an interview Trump vowed "very strong action" if Iran executes protesters. He also had asked Iranians to keep protesting and take over institutions, declaring "help is on the way." A U.S. official said Washington is withdrawing personnel from key bases in the region as a precaution given heightened regional tensions.
Visiting a Tehran prison where arrested protesters are being held, Iran's chief justice said speed in judging and penalizing was critical to ensuring such events do not happen again.
"Even if we do the exact same thing but in a couple of months, it will not have the same impact", Ejei said.
A source inside Iran who was able to call out said that activist groups working to compile a full death toll from the protests, based on reports from medical officials across the country, believed the toll was thousands.
Iran and its Western foes have both described the unrest as the most violent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that installed Iran's system of clerical rule.
The protests began two weeks ago as demonstrations against dire economic conditions and rapidly escalated.
