The Group of Seven (G7) nations cautioned Iran on Wednesday that they are ready to impose sanctions on the country if the regime persists with its violent crackdown on protests.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S., along with the European Union’s high representative, voiced “grave concern” over reports of mass casualties, widespread injuries, and alleged [unclear content] due to the escalating unrest.

This development comes as the Human Rights Activist News Agency () announced the deaths of 2,403 protesters. Other reports state the death toll is [unclear], with the actual number likely to be higher.

“We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are gravely concerned by the developments surrounding the ongoing protests in Iran,” the statement declared.

“We firmly oppose the intensification of the Iranian authorities’ brutal repression of the Iranian people, who have been courageously voicing legitimate aspirations for a better life, dignity, and freedom since the end of December 2025,” it read.

The G7 also indicated it was “deeply alarmed at reports of deaths and injuries” and condemned what it termed the “deliberate use of violence, the killing of protesters, arbitrary detention, and intimidation tactics by security forces against demonstrators.”

The protests, which started on Dec. 28, occurred amidst deepening economic distress and the collapse of the Iranian rial. They rapidly expanded and evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.

The G7 ministers also urged the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint and halt the use of force against civilians, calling on Tehran to respect its international obligations and safeguard the rights to “freedom of expression, to seek, receive, and impart information, and the freedom of association and peaceful assembly, without fear of reprisal.”

While the joint statement did not enumerate specific new sanctions, it made it clear that additional action is still under consideration, signaling unity among leading Western powers.

“Iran’s continued crackdown in violation of international human rights obligations could prompt further restrictive measures from the G7,” the ministers said.

It should be noted that there are some unclear parts in the original text (such as “alleged ” and “the death toll is “) which are maintained as such in the rephrased version. Also, the context of the protests in Iran is a complex and sensitive international issue, and this rephrasing is just for the purpose of language adjustment as per the request.