DUBAI/JERUSALEM >> Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday, as Tehran threatened to target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump carries out his renewed threats to intervene on behalf of protesters.

A rights group reports over 500 deaths in Iran protests as Tehran threatens US military bases amid intervention threats from President Trump. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The death toll in the crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has spiked to at least 538 people, activists said.

Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. The protests began on December 28 as demonstrations against soaring inflation and economic hardship but soon escalated into tense nationwide unrest, marked by violent clashes between protesters and security forces. World News | Death Toll in Iran Protests Rises to 420, Says Human Rights Activists in Iran.

Iran experienced a nationwide internet blackout on Thursday amidst widespread protests against dire economic conditions. Internet monitoring groups reported a near-total shutdown, a tactic previously used by the government during crises to quell dissent and limit information flow. Experts believe this shutdown aims to sever protesters' communication and suppress coverage of the ongoing demonstrations.