"Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said "several thousand people" died in this month's anti-government demonstrations, his first acknowledgment of the deadly scale of the unrest. Some of those were killed "brutally and inhumanely," Khamenei said without offering detail in a public meeting broadcast on state TV. He accused the US and Israel of aiding the killings and said the Islamic Republic has evidence to support the claim."
"The toll suggested by Khamenei was in line with estimates from human rights groups and others that some 3,500 people had perished. The groups estimate that more than 22,000 people have been detained. Trump told Politico that Iran needs new leadership and said Khamenei is guilty of "the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before.""
"The protests have taken place during a record long internet blackout for Iran's population of about 92 million people. Earlier, local media reported that internet connectivity had been partially restored, even as most residents appeared to remain largely cut off from the outside world for a ninth day. Iran's government shut down internet and mobile phone services on Jan. 8 to quell rising unrest sparked by a currency crisis late last month."
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged that several thousand people died in anti-government demonstrations and said some were killed "brutally and inhumanely." He accused the US and Israel of aiding the killings and asserted the Islamic Republic has evidence to support that claim. Khamenei said Iran does not intend to push the country toward war but will not allow domestic or international criminals to go unpunished and blamed US President Donald Trump for deaths and damage inflicted on the Iranian people. Human rights groups estimate about 3,500 deaths and more than 22,000 detentions. The protests occurred during a record-long internet blackout after services were shut down on Jan. 8 amid unrest sparked by a currency crisis, with partial connectivity later reported.
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