Iranian Official Says Protest Death Toll Has Passed 5,000 as Unrest Deepens

An Iranian official has revealed that more than 5,000 people have been killed in the nationwide protests that erupted last month, marking one of the deadliest periods of unrest the country has seen in decades. The official, who requested anonymity, said the worst violence occurred in Kurdish regions in the northwest, where clashes were intense and casualties high.

According to the official, the overall toll is unlikely to rise sharply, and he claimed that foreign actors, including Israel and groups operating abroad, had provided support and equipment to demonstrators. Iranian authorities have repeatedly blamed outside forces for fueling the unrest.

The protests began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over economic grievances but quickly spread across the country and took on a political tone. People from all walks of life, including students, shopkeepers, women, men, the wealthy and the poor, have joined calls for an end to clerical rule.

Rights groups have reported different figures. HRANA, a US based organization, said the confirmed death toll stands at 3,308, with more than 4,300 additional cases still under review. The group also reported more than 24,000 arrests since the protests began.

Hengaw, a Kurdish rights organization based in Norway, said Kurdish areas faced some of the heaviest security crackdowns in late December, consistent with reports of severe clashes in the northwest.

Iranian officials continue to accuse foreign adversaries of stoking the unrest. Israel, a long standing rival of the Islamic Republic, carried out military strikes on Iranian targets in June, further heightening tensions.