As clashes between authorities and protesters have intensified amid anti-government demonstrations in Iran that have continued since last month, an Iranian official said deaths on both sides have topped 5,000.
On the 18th (local time), Reuters reported that an Iranian official who requested anonymity said, "We have confirmed that at least 5,000 people have died in the protests, including about 500 security personnel." The official added, "The highest number of deaths occurred in Iran's northwestern region, where Kurdish separatists are active."
That figure is higher than the death toll tallied by human rights groups. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates that, as of the day before, 3,308 people have died in the protests. Separately, 4,382 cases are under review. The number of arrests is reported to have exceeded 24,000.
However, the official projected that "the final death toll does not appear likely to rise sharply." According to foreign media including the New York Times (NYT) and Reuters, the recent anti-government protests are entering a lull.
In particular, the official shifted blame outward, saying that "Israel and overseas armed groups" are supporting the arming of protesters in connection with the demonstrations. Authorities, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, are also highlighting the human and material damage from the protests while placing responsibility on the United States.
The anti-government protests in Iran were triggered last month by economic reasons, including a plunge in the currency's value. But as the government responded with a hard line, the protests grew for weeks and escalated into armed clashes between protesters and authorities. During this process, when U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern about bloodshed and hinted at the possibility of military intervention, Iranian authorities strongly pushed back, and the issue at times spilled over into diplomatic and military tensions.