Iran’s Supreme Leader has made his strongest claim yet on the scale of deaths during nationwide protests, accusing the United States and Israel of orchestrating violence that allegedly left thousands dead and plunged the country into weeks of unrest.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused actors linked to the United States and Israel of being responsible for the deaths of “several thousands” of people during weeks of antigovernment protests across Iran. Speaking on Saturday, Khamenei said those “linked to Israel and US caused massive damages and killed several thousands” during unrest that lasted for more than two weeks.
He alleged direct involvement by both countries in the violence and described US President Donald Trump as a “criminal”. “The latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the US president personally became involved,” Iranian state media quoted him as saying. According to Khamenei, this level of foreign intervention marked a significant escalation compared to previous protests.
On Sunday, an Iranian official in the region told Reuters that authorities had verified at least 5,000 people were killed during the protests, including around 500 members of the security forces. The official blamed “terrorists and armed rioters” for the deaths of what he described as “innocent Iranians”. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The same source said some of the deadliest clashes occurred in Iran’s Kurdish regions in the northwest. These areas have long experienced tensions involving Kurdish separatist groups and have seen repeated outbreaks of violence during past periods of unrest.
Iranian authorities have increasingly pointed to foreign powers as the driving force behind the protests, accusing longstanding geopolitical rivals, primarily the United States and Israel, of fomenting instability and directing operations inside the country. Khamenei warned that while Iran would avoid expanding the conflict beyond its borders, those it considers responsible would face consequences. “We will not drag the country into war, but we will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished,” he said.
Reporting from Tehran via satellite, Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar Atas said Khamenei’s remarks reinforced Iran’s official narrative but introduced a significant new claim regarding the scale of casualties. Atas noted that Khamenei alleged a deeper level of US involvement than in previous unrest, saying the American president was a central figure in what he described as an international plot against Iran.
What stood out most, Atas said, was the reference to thousands of deaths. Until now, Iranian officials had acknowledged hundreds of fatalities. US based rights group HRANA has claimed that a further 3,000 people were killed during the protests, while Iranian officials say about 3,000 people have been arrested.
Khamenei also accused protesters of widespread destruction, including the burning of more than 250 mosques and medical facilities. Iranian authorities say protests initially began peacefully over rising prices and economic hardship on December 28, before being “hijacked” by violent groups allegedly backed by foreign powers. Officials claim those involved were “equipped, financed, and trained” from abroad.
The semiofficial Fars News Agency reported that authorities have restored SMS services nationwide following eight days of near total internet disruption.
