Iran's Supreme Leader Acknowledges Death Toll in Recent Protests

Sun Jan 18 2026 21:51:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei admits thousands of deaths occurred during the protests, blaming the US for the violence.

In a significant admission, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged that thousands were killed during recent protests. He attributed part of the violence to foreign interference, particularly from the US, as demonstrations calling for change escalated amidst strict internet censorship and a heavy crackdown by security forces.

Iran's supreme leader has for the first time publicly acknowledged that thousands of people were killed during recent protests.

In a speech on Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remarked that thousands had been killed, some in an inhuman, savage manner, and blamed the US for the deaths.

A violent response to the unrest has claimed 3,090 lives, according to the US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), with some activist groups suggesting the death toll could be higher. An internet blackout has complicated efforts to obtain precise information.

US President Donald Trump recently urged Iranian demonstrators to keep protesting and threatened military intervention if security forces continued their violent actions.

Those linked to Israel and the US caused massive damage and killed several thousand, Khamenei stated, as quoted by Iranian state media. He labeled Trump a criminal for the casualties and damages inflicted upon Iran.

The protests, which began on December 28 over economic despair, have garnered calls for an end to Khamenei's rule.

The Iranian government has characterized the demonstrations as riots instigated by the nation’s adversaries.

Protesters have faced a brutal crackdown, with authenticated evidence of security forces opening fire on demonstrators. The nation is experiencing a near-total internet shutdown, with connectivity down to around 2% of normal levels, according to cyber monitors.

A recent report indicated fewer instances of unrest in recent days, but restrictions on internet access hinder reliable updates on the situation. A local resident in Shiraz shared that while security forces remain visible, the atmosphere seems to have stabilized.

During his address, Khamenei reiterated that the US must be held accountable for its role in the unrest and accused it of seeking to undermine Iranian sovereignty.

In response to the escalating tensions, the US State Department warned that any attack on American bases would be met with significant force and advised Iran against aggression.

Trump stated he had received assurances that violence in Iran had ceased, though he did not rule out potential military action against the country.