Iranian authorities have acknowledged for the first time that around 2,000 people, including protesters and security personnel, have been killed during two weeks of nationwide unrest, marking one of the deadliest crackdowns in recent years.
An Iranian official, speaking to Reuters on Tuesday, blamed what he described as “terrorists” for the deaths but did not provide a detailed breakdown.
The protests were triggered by worsening economic conditions, including high inflation, unemployment and shortages, and have since spread across multiple cities.
The unrest has emerged as the most serious internal challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership in at least three years, unfolding amid heightened international pressure following Israeli and U.S. strikes last year.
The situation has further escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from countries doing business with Iran, warning that additional military action remains an option.
Tehran has yet to respond officially, though China has criticised the move. Iran, already under extensive U.S. sanctions, relies heavily on oil exports, particularly to China, for economic stability.
