As clashes between authorities and demonstrators escalated amid Iran's anti-government protests that have continued since last month, an analysis said a hard-line crackdown may have left about 18,000 people dead.
On the 18th, the Sunday edition of The Times reported, citing reports obtained from local doctors, that 16,500 to 18,000 people were killed and 330,000 were injured. As Iran's protests spread, various institutions have released statistics estimating the damage, but none can be officially confirmed. Foreign media and human rights groups also can only estimate that there were mass casualties based on demonstrators' accounts and videos and photos.
An Iranian official who requested anonymity also said in an interview with Reuters that "we have confirmed that 5,000 people have died, including about 500 security personnel, in these protests." Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based in the United States, estimates that as of the previous day 3,308 people have died in these protests. Separately, it is reviewing 4,382 cases. It reports that arrests have surpassed 24,000.
In this situation, Iranian authorities, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, are highlighting the human and material damage from the anti-government protests. In particular, they are shifting the blame to the United States and Israel. Their argument is that these countries and overseas armed groups incited the demonstrators, enlarging the protests and ultimately increasing the number of victims.
The Iranian judiciary said in connection with the anti-government protests that "no death sentence has yet been handed down." It added that "it could take up to several years to determine whether there were links with foreign forces," but said it plans to identify and punish those who incited the anti-government protests. It also claimed that some demonstrators were mercenaries linked to the intelligence agencies of the United States and Israel.
According to foreign media including The New York Times (NYT) and Reuters, the protests have mostly entered a lull. The anti-government protests were triggered last month by economic reasons such as a collapse in currency value. But as the government responded hard-line, the protests grew for weeks, and when U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern about bloodshed and hinted at possible military intervention, strong backlash from Iranian authorities turned it into a diplomatic and military issue.
Iranian authorities are delivering news such as plans to reopen schools and restore internet service. According to local Iranian media, schools that had been closed for a week reopened on the day. Iran's domestic intranet messenger apps are also set to resume soon. Earlier on the afternoon of the 8th, as the anti-government protests spread, Iranian authorities completely cut off international phone calls and internet connections.