Iranian state TV announced on Wednesday that a total of 3,117 people lost their lives during the protests that commenced on December 28. Among the casualties, 2,427 were reported as civilians and security forces, while details on the rest were not provided. In contrast, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency stated that the death toll was at least 4,560, citing their reliable sources within Iran.
Arsalan Kahnemuyipour, an Iranian Canadian human rights activist and linguistics professor at the University of Toronto, expressed his belief that the actual death toll could be much higher than reported. He emphasized that the numbers were based on identified names by human rights organizations. He also dismissed claims of foreign intervention in instigating the protests or causing harm to the protesters as unfounded.
Following the violent crackdown on the protests in Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stern warning to the United States, stating that Iran would retaliate with full force if faced with any renewed attacks. The escalating tensions between the two countries have raised concerns about the potential for further violence.
The death toll from the recent unrest in Iran surpasses any previous protests in decades and has drawn parallels to the tumultuous period surrounding the country’s 1979 revolution. Despite a lull in protests, fears persist that the number of casualties could rise as more information emerges from a nation still under an internet blackout imposed by the government.
The Iranian authorities have blamed “terrorists” for using live ammunition that resulted in the deaths of both civilians and security forces. The crackdown on protesters and the large number of arrests made have raised alarms about potential human rights violations in the country. Additionally, the threats and warnings exchanged between Iranian and U.S. officials have further heightened tensions in the region.