Over 2,000 killed in Iran protests as Tehran official blames ‘terrorists’ for deaths
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran. (AP) More than 2,000 people, including security personnel have been killed in deadly protests across Iran, an Iranian official confirmed on Tuesday, the first time President Masoud Pezeshkian-led administration acknowledged the high death toll from an intense crackdown which has entered into its third week.
The Iranian official, while speaking to Reuters, said that “terrorists” were behind the deaths of protesters and security personnel. The official, however, didn’t provide a breakdown of how many protesters and security personnel were killed.
A US-based activists group had earlier identified hundreds of people were killed and thousands had been arrested during the nationwide protests.
Reason behind Iran protests
The unrest in Tehran started in the last week of December due to dire economic situation in the country but soon transformed into a demonstration against the theocratic rule led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
