US President Donald Trump has threatened to "take very strong action" if Iranian authorities begin hanging anti-government protesters this week.
"We will take very strong action. If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action," Trump said in a exclusive interview with the US network CBS, which was broadcast on Tuesday night.
His comments to CBS Evening News follow a social media post in which the US president said he had "cancelled all meetings" with Iranian officials, in response to the country’s severe crackdown on anti-government protests.
Widespread protests against Iran’s ruling regime, which began on December 28, have been met with a harsh government crackdown that activists say has left more than 2,000 people dead. Some estimates put that figure much higher.
There are also reports that the regime is preparing to execute the first prisoner arrested and found guilty of participating in the ongoing protests in the country.
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