Paris,
Iran’s supreme leader has called for a firm response against what he described as “seditionists” following weeks of protests that were met with a heavy security crackdown, as sharply conflicting accounts continue to emerge over the scale of casualties and arrests.
In a televised address on Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said authorities must act decisively against those he accused of instigating violence during the unrest, which was sparked by public anger over economic hardship and marked the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic in more than three years.
Khamenei accused what he described as hostile internal and external actors of killing thousands of people during the unrest, remarks that appeared to acknowledge for the first time that a large number of deaths had occurred. He said the country did not seek conflict but would not show leniency toward what he called domestic criminals, while also blaming foreign powers for fuelling the unrest.
Iranian officials have consistently accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating or exploiting the protests, describing them as a “terrorist operation” that hijacked legitimate economic grievances. The claims have been rejected by Western governments.
The demonstrations have largely subsided after an extensive security response that rights groups say took place under a near-total internet blackout lasting more than a week. Schools were due to reopen on Sunday after a temporary closure, according to Iranian media, with postponed university exams scheduled to resume later.
State-aligned outlets reported that order had been restored and that thousands of people had been arrested. Iranian officials have not released a comprehensive national figure. Security sources cited by the Tasnim news agency said around 3,000 people were detained, while rights organisations estimate the number of arrests could be far higher.
International concern has focused on the reported death toll, which remains difficult to verify because of severe restrictions on communications. The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights said it had verified the deaths of 3,428 protesters, warning that the real number could be significantly higher. Other estimates cited by rights monitors range from 5,000 to as many as 20,000 deaths, though Iranian authorities dispute those figures.
The opposition-linked broadcaster Iran International, which operates outside the country, said at least 12,000 people had been killed, citing unnamed government and security sources. Tehran has dismissed such claims as exaggerated.
Eyewitnesses who have left Iran told international media that security forces opened fire during protests in several cities. One witness, who asked to be identified only by his first name for security reasons, said he had seen large numbers of bodies at a mortuary in Tehran after demonstrations in January. Such accounts have not been independently verified.
Internet monitoring group Netblocks said connectivity in Iran remained severely restricted on Saturday, despite brief signs of limited restoration earlier in the day. While some residents were reportedly able to send text messages domestically and abroad, receiving messages from outside the country remained unreliable.
Iranian authorities also announced the arrest of members of the Bahai religious minority, accusing them of involvement in unrest and vandalism. Rights groups have long accused Tehran of targeting Bahais, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, allegations the government denies.
The protests and their aftermath have drawn reactions from abroad. US President Donald Trump, who backed Israel during a brief conflict with Iran earlier this year, has warned Tehran against executing protesters and said Washington was monitoring developments closely. Iranian officials have dismissed his comments, accusing him of interference and misinformation.
While there have been no confirmed reports of fresh protests in recent days, security forces remain visible in several areas. Exiled opposition figures, including Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former monarch, have called on Iranians to resume demonstrations, though it remains unclear how much support such appeals command inside the country.
With communications still restricted and official data limited, observers say it may take weeks or longer before a clearer picture emerges of the human cost of the unrest and its political consequences.
