Protests in Iran. The Ayatollah publicly acknowledged the death of thousands for the first time.

For the first time in a long while, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, publicly acknowledged that thousands of people have died during the recent protests. He also blamed the United States for these tragic events.
Archive photo. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed the deaths of thousands of people during the protests.
“We consider the President of the United States to be a criminal responsible for the victims and damage, as well as for the slander against the Iranian people,” state media report Khamenei's words.

Donald Trump previously urged Iranian protesters to “continue their actions” and warned Tehran of possible military intervention if security forces began to crack down on demonstrators.

According to Iranian human rights defenders from the HRANA agency, the number of deaths resulting from the brutal suppression of protests has reached 3,090 people.

Currently, protests have been registered in 186 cities across Iran, covering 31 provinces, and the number of detainees has exceeded tens of thousands.

Additionally, the country's air defense has been put on high alert.

It is worth noting that internet shutdowns in Iran have continued for over a week, and mobile communication is also unavailable. Mass protests, triggered by economic difficulties and the decline of the national currency, began in late December 2025.