Verified Deaths in Iran Protests Reach At Least 5,000

An Iranian official said on 18 January that authorities had verified at least 5,000 deaths in recent protests across Iran, including roughly 500 security personnel. The official attributed the violence to “terrorists and armed rioters” targeting innocent civilians.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, the official noted that the heaviest clashes and the highest fatalities occurred in Kurdish regions of northwest Iran, where Kurdish separatist activity has historically sparked violent unrest.

“The final toll is not expected to rise sharply,” the official added, claiming that “Israel and armed groups abroad” had supported and equipped those involved in the protests.

Iranian authorities often blame unrest on foreign adversaries, including Israel, which previously carried out military strikes against Iran in June.

Separately, the US-based rights group HRANA reported on 17 January that the death toll in the protests had reached 3,308, with another 4,382 cases under review. The group also confirmed more than 24,000 arrests.

The Norwegian-based Iranian Kurdish rights group Hengaw confirmed that Kurdish areas in the northwest witnessed some of the most intense clashes during protests that erupted in late December.