What we know about Iran protest deaths after supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei broke silence on protest killings
US President Donald Trump has urged Iranian protesters to “keep protesting” and warned that the US could take military action if security forces continued to kill demonstrators.
An agitator holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest by Shia Muslims in support of the Islamic Republic, amid the deadly protests challenging Iran's theocracy and threats by the US to intervene militarily in the country. (Photo: PTI)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has, for the first time, publicly admitted that thousands of people were killed during recent protests in the country.
In a speech on Saturday, he said “several thousand” people had died, adding that some were killed “in an inhuman, savage manner”. He blamed the United States and Israel for the violence, according to Iranian state media, as reported by the BBC.
“Those linked to Israel and the US caused massive damage and killed several thousand,” Khamenei said.
He added, “We consider the US president criminal for the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation.”
How many people were killed
The true death toll remains unclear due to a near-total internet shutdown in Iran. The US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says at least 3,090 people have been killed. Some activist groups believe the number is much higher.
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Why the protests began
The protests started on 28 December over economic conditions but later turned into wider calls for an end to the rule of the supreme leader.
Iranian authorities have described the demonstrations as “riots” and say they were encouraged by foreign enemies.
A woman in Shiraz told BBC Persian that security forces were still patrolling streets on motorbikes, but said daily life had largely returned to normal.
Khamenei accused Trump directly, calling him a “criminal” and saying the US must be “held accountable”. He also claimed on social media that “America’s goal is to swallow Iran”.
The US President sent a message to the seditionists saying he would support them and provide military support. In other words, the US President himself was involved in the sedition. These are criminal acts.
The US State Department said it had received reports that Iran may be considering attacks on American bases. It warned Tehran it would face “a very powerful force” if it carried out such actions.
Trump said earlier this week that he had been told “the killing in Iran has stopped”, but added that he had not ruled out military action.
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The comments come after the US and the UK reduced staff numbers at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar. US officials said the move was a precaution due to rising regional tensions.
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An agitator holds a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest by Shia Muslims in support of the Islamic Republic, amid the deadly protests challenging Iran's theocracy and threats by the US to intervene militarily in the country. (Photo: PTI) 
