Khamenei admits thousands killed in Iran
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly acknowledged for the first time that thousands of people have lost their lives in the recent nationwide protests.
In a speech on Saturday (January 17), he said that several thousand people have died in the protests and that some of the killings were extremely inhumane and brutal. However, he directly blamed the United States and Israel for the huge loss of life. Khamenei claimed that those involved in Israel and the United States were responsible for the massive damage and killings in Iran.
According to human rights organizations, the death toll in government violence to suppress the protests has exceeded 3,090, although many rights groups claim that the number is much higher. With internet connectivity almost completely cut off across the country, it has become extremely difficult to obtain accurate casualty figures.
Cyber monitor Netblocks reported that internet connectivity in Iran was only two percent of normal yesterday (January 17). BBC Persian and BBC Verify have analysed video footage to confirm that live ammunition was used against protesters.
The protests, which began on 28 December to protest an economic crisis, quickly escalated into calls for the government to fall and the removal of the supreme leader. The Iranian government has described the situation as a “riot” carried out by enemies, but US President Donald Trump has expressed support for the protesters.
Trump has warned that the US could intervene militarily if security forces continue to kill. Khamenei has responded by calling Trump a “criminal” and saying that the US will be held responsible for the deaths and slander of the Iranian people.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has warned Iran that it will face “massive military force” if it tries to attack any US bases. US officials have warned Tehran not to play a dangerous game with President Trump. While Trump has said he has been told the killings in Iran have stopped, he has not completely ruled out military action against the country.
Although the situation has now returned to normal in several cities, including Shiraz in southwestern Iran, concerns remain among the general public due to strict security patrols and internet restrictions.
