Reports: Death toll in Iran rises to 2,000 |A 26-year-old Iranian protester is set to be executed today for participating in anti-regime protests that have swept the country, as the world awaits possible intervention by the US.

Donald Trump has called on demonstrators to “keep protesting” and pledged “help is on its way”, without offering any detail about what that could entail.Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests since last month, and media and other reports say the death toll is rising. Reuters quoted an Iranian official on Tuesday as saying around 2,000 people have been killed in the unrest.

A US-based human rights group reported 2,003 deaths. An Iranian government official told local media that more than two-thirds of the victims were “martyrs.” But the government has not released an exact number of casualties. It has also restricted internet access in the country.

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said it restricted the internet due to security concerns, and she indicated this will stay in place until the situation stabilizes. She also blamed the United States and Israel for inciting the violence in the country.

US President Donald Trump is continuing to keep up pressure on Iran. During a speech in Michigan, he encouraged the Iranians to keep protesting, and warned that those who have killed protesters will “pay a very big price.” He also said he has canceled all meetings with Iranian officials.The killing looks like it’s significant, but we don’t know yet for certain,” Trump told reporters while returning to the White House.

Once he has the numbers, he said, “we’ll act accordingly.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Iranian authorities would “pay a big price” for the killings, and urged people to “keep protesting”.

“I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!,” he added, using the acronym for a US-based Iranian opposition slogan, “Make Iran Great Again”.

Trump has been weighing military and other options in response to the crackdown, having already announced 25% tariffs on any country trading with Iran.

The protests, which have reportedly spread to 180 cities and towns in all 31 provinces, were sparked by anger over the collapse of the Iranian currency and soaring cost of living.

They quickly widened into demands for political change and became one of the most serious challenges to the clerical establishment since the 1979 Islamic revolution.