Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has, for the first time, publicly acknowledged that thousands of people were killed during recent nationwide protests. In a speech on Saturday, Khamenei said that several thousand people had died, “some in an inhuman and savage manner,” and blamed the United States for the deaths. Iranian state media quoted him as saying that those linked to Israel and the US had caused widespread destruction and were responsible for killing thousands.
Human rights groups have reported a high death toll following the authorities’ violent response to the unrest. The US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 3,090 people were killed, while other activist organisations have put the number significantly higher. Verifying the scale of casualties has been difficult due to a near-total internet blackout across the country.
The protests began on December 28 over economic grievances but quickly expanded into broader calls for an end to Khamenei’s rule. Iranian officials have described the demonstrations as “riots” instigated by foreign enemies.
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