Iran’s leader Khamenei admits large protest death toll, blames US and Israel

Bangla Press Desk:  Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday for the first time publicly acknowledged that several thousands of people were killed during the recent violent protests, blaming the US and Israel for hijacking the previous peaceful demonstrations.

In a speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said thousands had been killed, "some in an inhuman, savage manner", and massive property damages were caused -- as the protests over economic hardships suddenly turned into a battle against the state’s theocracy.

"We consider the US president criminal for the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation," Khamenei said, according to Iranian state media.

Demonstrations have largely subsided, and communication restrictions have been partially lifted. Schools were set to resume Sunday, the ISNA news agency said, following a one-week closure, with postponed university exams set to be held in a week.

Authorities have said demonstrations they condemn as "riots" had been controlled and calm returned

Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene, including by threatening "very strong action" if Iran executed protesters.

But on Friday, in a social media post, he thanked Tehran's leaders, saying they had called off mass hangings. Iran said there was "no plan to hang people".

However, Iran has continued hunting for the “perpetrators behind the violence” based on “intelligence data.”

"By God's grace, the Iranian nation must break the back of the seditionists just as it broke the back of the sedition," Khamenei warned.

In comments that appeared to respond to Trump, Khamenei said: "We do not intend to lead the country to war, but we will not spare domestic criminals."

"International criminals" were "worse," he added.

Iran's worst unrest in years

Iran's ultimate authority Khamenei said "several thousand deaths" had happened during the nationwide protests, which are Iran's worst unrest in years. He accused Iran's longtime enemies the US and Israel of organising the violence.

"Those linked to Israel and the US caused massive damage and killed several thousand," he said, adding that they started fires, destroyed public property and incited chaos. They "committed crimes and a grave slander," he said.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, or HRANA, said it had verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, and over 22,000 arrests.

Last week, Iran's prosecutor general said detainees would face severe punishment. Those held included people who "aided rioters and terrorists attacking security forces and public property" and "mercenaries who took up arms and spread fear among citizens," he said.

"All perpetrators are mohareb," state media quoted Mohammad Movahedi Azad as saying, adding that investigations would be conducted "without leniency, mercy or tolerance".

Mohareb, an Islamic legal term meaning to wage war against God, is punishable by death under Iranian law.

Internet services restored in part

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the numbers of casualties or details of disturbances reported by Iranian media and rights groups. The crackdown appears to have broadly quelled protests, according to residents and state media.

Getting information has been complicated by internet blackouts, which were partly lifted for a few hours early on Saturday. But internet monitoring group NetBlocks said the blackout seemed to have been reimposed late on Saturday.

"Internet connectivity continues to flatline in #Iran despite a minor short-lived bump in access earlier today," NetBlocks said on X. "As the shutdown enters day ten, confusion surrounds whether the regime intends to restore service soon, or at all."

A resident of Karaj, west of Tehran, reached by phone via WhatsApp, said he noticed the internet was back at 4am (0000 GMT) on Saturday. Karaj experienced some of the most severe violence during the protests. The resident, who asked not to be identified, said Thursday was the peak of the unrest there.

A few Iranians overseas said earlier on social media that they had also been able to message users in Iran early on Saturday.

Arrests have followed intelligence operations, media say

State media has reported the arrest of thousands of "rioters and terrorists" across the country, including people linked to opposition groups abroad that advocate the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.

The arrests included several people Iranian state media described as "ringleaders", including a woman named as Nazanin Baradaran, who was taken into custody following “complex intelligence operations".

The reports said that Baradaran operated under the pseudonym Raha Parham on behalf of Reza Pahlavi – the exiled son of Iran’s last shah - and had played a leading role in organising the unrest. Reuters could not verify the report or her identity.

Pahlavi, a longtime opposition figure, has positioned himself as a potential leader in the event of regime collapse and has said he would seek to re-establish diplomatic ties between Iran and Israel if he were to assume a leadership role in the country.

Israeli officials have expressed support for Pahlavi. In a rare public disclosure this month, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said in an interview with Israel's Army Radio that Israel had operatives "on the ground" in Iran.

He said they aimed to weaken Iran's capabilities, though he denied they were directly working to topple the leadership.

BP/SP