Iran State Media Reports at Least 3,117 Deaths During Protests

Iran State Television Releases Official Death Toll from Protests

The Iranian state television has released an official death toll of 3,117 people killed during the recent antigovernment protests that took place in the country. According to a statement carried by Press TV on Wednesday, 2,427 of those killed were civilians and security forces.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 4,519 people were killed during the wave of demonstrations, including 4,251 protesters, 197 security personnel, 35 people under the age of 18, and 38 bystanders. HRANA also stated that an additional 9,049 deaths are currently under review.

The protests began in late December with shopkeepers protesting against the devaluation of the currency and rising cost of living. The demonstrations escalated into a widespread antigovernment movement, which was condemned by Iranian authorities as a “terrorist” incident. The government claimed that the violent “riots” were fueled by external factors, including the US.

The government crackdown on protesters was widely criticized, with some rights groups alleging that security forces directly fired at unarmed individuals. Amnesty International reported that Iranian security forces were positioned on streets and rooftops, firing rifles and shotguns loaded with metal pellets at unarmed individuals’ heads and torsos.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal that Tehran would not hold back if attacked, but called for “respect” for Iran. US President Donald Trump also made comments on the situation, stating that Iran would be wiped “off the face of this earth” if it ever successfully assassinated him.

In recent days, several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, have reportedly lobbied Trump not to attack Iran in response to the crackdown.

Source: Al Jazeera