Trump says 32,000 killed in Iran anti-government protests

President Trump on Friday claimed that 32,000 people were killed during recent anti-government protests in Iran, making these remarks as he considers potential military strikes against the country over its nuclear program. The president's assertion comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, with CBS News Pentagon reporter Eleanor Watson covering the developing situation. While the exact death toll remains unverified, Trump's comments significantly escalate the rhetoric surrounding the protests and Iran's nuclear ambitions. The Iranian government has not responded directly to these specific claims, though it has previously dismissed similar allegations as propaganda. This latest development follows months of deteriorating relations between Washington and Tehran, particularly since the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. The Trump administration has consistently taken a hardline stance against Iran, imposing stringent sanctions and threatening military action. The claimed death toll, if accurate, would represent one of the most violent crackdowns on civilian protests in recent Iranian history and could potentially justify more aggressive U.S. military intervention in the region.