US-based activist agency says it has verified 3,766 deaths from Iran protests
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An American activist organization reported on Sunday that they have confirmed over 3,766 deaths during a recent series of protests in Iran, with concerns that the actual number may be even higher.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency released the updated figure, surpassing the previous count of 3,308 fatalities. This death toll is the highest seen in Iran in decades, reminiscent of the turmoil surrounding the 1979 revolution.
The accuracy of the agency’s data has been consistent over the years, relying on a network of activists within Iran to confirm all reported deaths. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify these numbers.
Iranian authorities have not provided a definitive death toll. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledged on Saturday that “several thousand” people had died during the protests, attributing the blame to the United States. This marks the first time an Iranian leader has disclosed the scale of casualties from the unrest that began on December 28 due to Iran’s struggling economy.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, 24,348 protesters have been arrested in the government’s crackdown.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated, with President Donald Trump issuing threats of military action if Iran was found to be using lethal force against demonstrators.
President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran attributed the hardships faced by the Iranian people to the “longstanding enmity and inhumane sanctions” imposed by the U.S. and its allies. He warned that any aggression against Iran’s Supreme Leader would be considered an act of war against the nation.
The situation in Iran has calmed in recent days, with no reports of ongoing protests. However, some Iranians have been chanting anti-government slogans from their homes, while internet access remains restricted.
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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed.
