'It's a massacre': Iranian rapper describes 'bodies on streets' left as a warning to protesters

 An Iranian rapper who took part in the country's protests has described "a massacre on the streets", suggesting foreign forces have been brought in to stamp out the protests.

Meraj Tehrani, who lives in the UK, told Sky News' international correspondent Alex Rossi he returned to Iran on business in early January, as demonstrations were erupting across the country.

Initially motivated by the country's ailing economy, the demonstrations have grown to challenge the ruling regime itself, leading to violence in the streets.

On Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khameni acknowledged "several thousand people" had been killed in the protests.

In their latest figures, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency group said it had verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, from the demonstrations and subsequent crackdown.

Tehrani told Sky News: "At first I think the government didn't believe that so many people would come out, they were surprised."

He said the internet shut down quickly after "millions" of people turned out.

The musician said people from all walks of life are calling for change, describing the country as undergoing a complete transformation.

"I've never seen an Iranian mood like that," he said. "Everyone was united, everyone was hoping, 'This is the time'. Everyone was chanting together for the first time."

He said he saw non-lethal bullets and tear gas being used by authorities, but said the violence then escalated.

"On Friday evening [9 January], that's when the majority of the killing started," said Tehrani.

He said it was when the revolutionary guard came out, "that's when everything got serious", and it became "a massacre on the streets".

Describing a video he had seen of "bullets shooting and killing people", he said bodies were "left on the street for the others to look at, so they get panicked and scared and it is a lesson for them, 'You are next if you're coming out on the street'… If you come out and demonstrate again, you will be like this guy, this lady, this woman, this kid."