Istanbul: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday denied claims that authorities in his country planned to execute protesters following weeks of unrest: "There is no any hanging, today or tomorrow ... I can tell you, I'm confident about that. There is no plan for hanging at all," Araghchi told US-based broadcaster Fox News in an interview.

According to Anadolu Agency, US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Washington would take 'very strong action' if Iran proceeded with executions of protesters. Trump and other US officials have intensified their rhetoric against Iran amidst the protests that have swept the country since late last month due to worsening economic conditions.

Araghchi also claimed that calm had been restored in Iran, with the government in "full control." He described the situation as a "vast terrorism operation" imposed by Israelis and Americans, likening it to a war scenario. "So the 13th day of war was Jan. 8 ... We were in the middle of the war, and now after three days of a terrorist operation, now there is call," he said, accusing the US and Israel of backing 'riots' and 'terrorism' amid the protests.

Rejecting reports of over 12,000 deaths during the protests as "baseless" and part of a "misinformation campaign," the minister insisted that the number of fatalities was in the "hundreds." He mentioned that an exact figure would be "announced very soon, perhaps tonight" by the Iranian government. Authorities have yet to release official figures on casualties or detainees.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a US-based group, estimates that at least 2,500 people have been killed, including protesters and security personnel, with more than 1,100 injured. Additionally, the group claims that more than 18,000 have been detained, though these figures have not been independently verified and differ from other estimates.