More than 4,500 protesters killed in Iran as foreign minister threatens forceful response to potential U.S. military strikes in escalating regional crisis.

A heavy security presence and deadly crackdowns appear to have largely suppressed protests across many Iranian cities and towns, according to witness

Emerging on Tuesday from a late-night Situation Room meeting to discuss options for striking Iran, some of President Donald Trump’s top national security officials were relatively sure a decision on military action was close at hand.

President Donald Trump is weighing potential strikes against Iran that, if conducted, experts say could expose weaknesses of Russia and China as global military powers unable to protect their allies.

Iran tensions rose after President Donald Trump threatened to take action over a violent crackdown against protesters, with the US moving military staff and Tehran warning neighboring countries against assisting an attack.

US military action against Iran appears to be back on the policy agenda in Washington amid the increasingly deadly crackdown on protesters in cities and towns across the country.

An unnamed Israeli official also said it appeared Trump had decided to intervene, though the scope and timing remained unclear. US military intervention in Iran could come in the next 24 hours, two European officials said on Wednesday evening,

Iran was set to participate in joint naval exercises in South Africa's waters with several other BRICS countries.

South Africa has launched an investigation over the participation of Iranian warships in naval drills off its coast.