Over 2,000 killed in Iran protests as Tehran official blames ‘terrorists’ for deaths
Iran protest death toll: The Iranian official, while speaking to Reuters, said that "terrorists" were behind the deaths of protesters and security personnel.
Iran protests 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)
Iran protests deaths: 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.
The unrest in the Islamic Republic is the biggest internal challenge for the Iranian administration in the past three years and it comes as international pressure against President Pezeshkian-led authority intensifies after US and Israeli strikes from June last year.
The clerical authorities of Iran, which have remained in power since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, have taken dual approach towards the protests and called the demonstrations against economic woes as legitimate but parallelly enforcing strict crackdown measures. The Iranian officials have accused US and Israel to incite the unrest and claimed that unknown “terrorists” have hijacked the protests.
Tehran administration has also cut down internet from over four days as communication restrictions have hampered the flow of information. The videos of clashes between protesters and security forces over the past week, which were verified by agencies, have shown violent conflict with gunfire and burning of buildings and cars.
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Iran protests 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) 
