Tehran: More than 3000 people have been killed in Iran during weeks of nationwide protests, according to a US based human rights group, as the country faces growing international pressure over its crackdown on dissent.
Human Rights Activists in Iran, known as HRANA, said at least 3090 people have died since protests erupted in late December over economic hardship and quickly turned into wider calls against Iran’s clerical leadership. The group said most of those killed were protesters, while some members of the security forces also died in clashes.
Reuters reported that the unrest spread across many cities before security forces moved in with force. Since then, several urban areas including Tehran have appeared calmer, although heavy security patrols remain in place and fear continues among residents.
Other rights organisations say the death toll could be even higher. Iran Human Rights, based in Europe, has put the number of people killed at more than 3400, warning that internet shutdowns and restrictions on media make it difficult to confirm deaths, especially in smaller towns.
Iran has imposed a near total internet blackout since early January. Monitoring groups say only limited connectivity has returned, leaving families struggling to contact relatives and preventing independent verification of events on the ground.
The Iranian government has blamed foreign enemies for the unrest and has not released its own casualty figures. Officials have also denied reports of mass executions of detained protesters, despite claims by US President Donald Trump that Tehran had backed down from such plans.
International reaction has been sharpening. The Munich Security Conference recently withdrew an invitation to Iran’s foreign minister, while rights groups including Amnesty International have called for global action to hold Iranian authorities accountable for what they describe as widespread and unlawful killings.
Despite the apparent lull in street protests, analysts say tensions remain high, with deep public anger over economic conditions, political restrictions and the scale of the crackdown that has already become one of the deadliest episodes of unrest in Iran in recent years