Six Iranians spoke to The Associated Press about the protests in Iran, describing how they expected the state to respond aggressively but were horrified by the extent of the brutal crackdown.

CNN’s Fred Pleitgen visits Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, where protests started in late December. Thousands were killed and at least 40,000 arrested in the subsequent crackdown, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Iran-US news live updates: Iran on Thursday warned of a "crushing response" to any attack. Hours later, US President Donald Trump said he is speaking with Iran and suggested that a military move could still be avoided.

"I built (up) the military in my first term, and now we have a group headed out to a place called Iran, and hopefully we won't have to use it," Trump told reporters at the premiere of a documentary about his wife Melania.

Militarily weakened but far from powerless, Iran retains tools that could widen a conflict and rattle global markets if Washington escalates.

Iran is on the edge as journalists warn footage emerging from Tehran shows scenes resembling a warzone, describing unarmed protesters shot dead during clashes with heavily armed security forces. BBC Persian correspondent Bahman Kalbasi said videos circulating from inside Iran were indistinguishable from battlefield footage,

Iran vowed Thursday to conduct live-fire military drills in one of the world’s most vital sea passages — which sees 20% of the globe’s oil transports — next week, just two

Iranian security forces allegedly killed amateur boxer Sepehr Ebrahimi during ongoing protests near Tehran. The death adds to Iran's rising protest toll of at least 6,126 people killed.