Iran's judiciary has raised the death toll from a blaze at Tehran's notorious Evin prison, saying at least eight prisoners are dead, as protests continue nationwide.
Details still remain scarce over the fire, which broke out on Saturday night (local time) as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered a fifth week.
The judiciary's Mizan news agency provided the new death toll on Monday, saying the prisoners had succumbed to their injuries on Sunday.
It said all those who died had been held on theft charges.
Mizan described the incident as a "fight between inmates and a fire", though it offered no evidence to support the claim.
The semi-official Fars news agency also reported that the death toll from the blaze has doubled, and said six inmates remain hospitalised following the fire.
Authorities said on Saturday that a prison workshop had been set on fire "after a fight among a number of prisoners convicted of financial crimes and theft".
The first four deaths reported by state media were due to smoke inhalation.
Activists outside of Iran say they remain sceptical of the Iranian government's claims, particularly as their recent descriptions of the nationwide protests have drastically differed with those on the ground.
Political prisoners locked up at Evin
Flames and thick smoke rising from Tehran's Evin Prison were widely visible on Saturday night.
In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison.
The blaze was extinguished after several hours and no detainees escaped, state media said.
Authorities have attempted to distance the events at the prison from the ongoing protests, while state media has offered conflicting accounts of the violence.
Hundreds are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have reported repeated abuses of prisoners.
Rights groups have accused officials at Evin Prison, which holds detainees facing security-related charges and includes dual citizens, of abusing inmates.
The facility has long been known for holding political prisoners as well as those with ties to the West who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations.
The protests erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
She was arrested by Iran's morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.
Iran's government insists Ms Amini was not mistreated in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained.
US President Joe Biden said the Iranian government was "oppressive" and he had an "enormous amount of respect for people marching in the streets".
AP/Reuters/ABC
