Iranian army declares 'red line' against protesters

The Iranian army declared on Saturday it would safeguard strategic infrastructure and public property, drawing a "red line" against protesters as the establishment escalates efforts to quell the largest demonstrations in years. The move followed warnings from US President Donald Trump and expressions of support for protesters from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Unrest continued overnight, with state media reporting a municipal building set on fire in Karaj, west of Tehran, and broadcasting funerals for security forces said to have been killed in protests in Shiraz, Qom and Hamedan.

The death toll has climbed to at least 65, with over 2,300 detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Internet and phone lines have been severely disrupted, complicating independent verification.

The military statement, published on semi-official news sites, accused Israel and "hostile terrorist groups" of seeking to undermine public security. Separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were reported by a witness to have opened fire in western Iran.

The protests, which began two weeks ago over soaring inflation, have spread nationwide and turned political, with open calls for the clerical rulers to step down. From abroad, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last Shah, urged protesters to "seize city centres" and called for a nationwide strike.

Medical sources reported hospitals receiving numerous injured protesters, with at least 20 people in one facility treated for live ammunition wounds, five of whom later died. The IRGC also reported casualties among the Basij security force.

The protests represent the most significant internal challenge to Iran's rulers in years, unfolding amid a dire economy and following last year's war. The leaders of France, Britain and Germany issued a joint statement condemning the killing of protesters.