At least 18 people have been killed and more than 170 arrested during a second week of widespread protests across several Iranian provinces, according to a report Sunday from the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization. The demonstrations, sparked by soaring living costs and a rapidly devaluing currency, have drawn international concern and warnings from Iranian officials about foreign interference.

Hengaw stated it has verified the identities of 18 killed, with at least nine from the Lur ethnic group and seven Kurdish. Six other cases are under review. The rights monitor also reported 24 new arrests on Sunday, including four women and five children, noting that no information has been released about the detainees' condition or whereabouts. This follows the arrest of at least 177 people in the first week of protests.

The unrest began last week in the capital, Tehran, and spread to several other cities by Thursday. It is driven by a severe economic downturn, with the Iranian rial plunging to around 1.42 million to the US dollar, down from approximately 650,000 a year ago. Inflation is estimated at nearly 50%, exacerbating hardship under renewed sanctions.

In response, United Nations human rights officials have urged Iranian authorities to show restraint. UN Special Rapporteur on Iran Mai Sato, in a Saturday social media post, called on Tehran to "respect the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and to refrain from using excessive force." UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk issued a similar appeal on Friday.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged Saturday that protester demands are "completely fair," but warned that rioters "must be put in their place." Officials have accused "hostile entities" of trying to exploit the demonstrations to destabilize the country.

The protests have ignited a diplomatic clash with the United States. President Donald Trump warned Friday that Washington was "locked and loaded" and would come to the "rescue" of demonstrators if lethal force was used. Iranian officials issued sharp retorts, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calling Trump's comments "reckless and dangerous." Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf suggested that "all American centers and forces in the entire region will be our legitimate targets" in response.

Amid the crisis, President Masoud Pezeshkian met with labor leaders Tuesday, pledging to address "legitimate demands" and safeguard livelihoods, according to the state-affiliated Mehr News Agency. The situation remains tense as economic pressures continue unabated.