The Hindustan Times article accurately reports on the significant developments surrounding widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which escalated in late December 2025 and continued into January 2026. A major claim verified is that Iranian state television, for the first time, officially acknowledged deaths amidst the unrest. It quoted an official stating the country had 'a lot of martyrs' and explained that early disclosure was withheld due to the severe nature of injuries sustained by the deceased. This acknowledgement, however, came after various activist groups had already reported far higher casualty figures. Specifically, an Iranian official also told Reuters that around 2,000 people were killed during the protests, attributing the violence to 'terrorists.' Concurrently, former US President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to the Iranian regime. Through his Truth Social platform, Trump urged 'Iranian Patriots' to 'KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!' He explicitly stated that the 'killers and abusers' would 'pay a big price' and announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters ceased. He also vaguely indicated that 'HELP IS ON ITS WAY.' The protests themselves, initiated by a sharp decline in Iran's currency and broader economic hardships, quickly spread across the nation. Human rights organizations, like the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), reported a death toll exceeding 2,000, with some sources citing figures as high as 12,000 to 20,000, recalling the scale of unrest seen during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Authorities responded with a severe crackdown, including a near-total internet shutdown, making it difficult to ascertain the full extent of the violence and arrests. The article's headline and core claims are consistent with multiple credible international news sources and human rights reports from the period.