Iranian authorities have released their first official death toll from weeks of nationwide anti‑government protests saying 3,117 people were killed in unrest they describe as “foreign‑backed terrorism,” including 2,427 civilians and security personnel whom the state has labelled “martyrs” while government officials claimed the remainder were rioters and “terrorists”responsible for attacking military sites. The demonstrations which began in late December over economic grievances before evolving into broader calls for political change have been met with a brutal crackdown under an ongoing internet blackout and rights groups and activists outside Iran say the real number of deaths and arrests may be far higher amid reports of lethal force by security forces and widespread suppression. State media showed charred buses and damage from unrest as Tehran blamed the United States for fueling the protests and said its forces showed restraint even as senior commanders warned of strong retaliation if Iran comes under attack. The conflicting figures and stark descriptions reflect deep divisions over what sparked and sustained the unrest drawing international attention to human rights concerns and raising questions about the future of political stability in the Islamic Republic.
