Iran's Supreme Leader Publicly Confirms Deadly Protest Deaths

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly acknowledged for the first time that thousands were killed during recent protests, saying some died in “some in an inhuman, savage manner.”

The unrest, which erupted over economic grievances on December 28, has claimed 3,090 lives, according to US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), though an internet blackout has made it difficult to verify exact figures, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

In his speech, Khamenei blamed the deaths on “seditionists” and condemned US President Donald Trump, calling him a “criminal” and saying the US must be “held accountable” for the unrest. He also claimed on social media that “America's goal is to swallow Iran.”

Trump has previously urged anti-government demonstrators to “keep protesting” and warned that military action could follow if security forces continued killing protesters. While reports of unrest have decreased in recent days, internet restrictions - which have cut connectivity to just 2 per cent of normal levels, according to cyber monitor NetBlocks - make it hard to confirm conditions on the ground.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State said it had “heard reports that the Islamic Republic is preparing options to target American bases,” warning Iran it would face “a very, very powerful force” if it attacked. Trump said earlier this week that he had been told “the killing in Iran has stopped” but has not ruled out military action.

A partial US and UK personnel withdrawal from the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar has been described by officials as a “precautionary measure,” amid rising tensions.