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Learning English from the News

Upper intermediate level

Iran protesters killed

Episode 260107 / 14 Jan 2026

(Photo by Photo by Anonymous/Getty Images)

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The story

More than 2,400 people have been killed after a crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran, according to a US-backed rights group.

People have been protesting for weeks about rising prices and government policies.

In response to the crackdown, US President Donald Trump says countries doing business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade with the US. Trump has also been considering other actions against the Iranian government, earlier telling Iranian protesters “help is on the way”.

News headlines

Sky hears harrowing details of the killing of a teenage Iranian protester
Sky News

'Thirstyfor freedom': What do we know about the protesters killed in Iran?
ITV News

Trump weighs response to Iran crackdown, Tehran says communication open with US
Reuters

Key words and phrases

harrowing
extremely upsetting

  • The book tells the harrowing story of one woman’s suffering during the Civil War.

thirsty for
need desperately

  • Campaigners are thirstyfor action to tackle climate change.

weigh
think carefully about and consider different possibilities

  • The CEO is weighing his response to corruption allegations.

Next 

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Learning English from the News