An Iranian regional official said on Sunday that authorities have verified at least 5,000 deaths during ongoing protests across Iran, including around 500 members of the security forces, according to Reuters.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, the official blamed the deaths on “terrorists and armed protesters,” accusing them of killing “innocent Iranian citizens.” He added that the final death toll is not expected to rise significantly.
The official stated that some of the fiercest clashes and highest number of fatalities occurred in Iran’s northwestern Kurdish regions, where Kurdish separatist groups have long been active and where unrest has historically turned violent.
He further alleged that Israel and armed groups operating abroad supported and armed protesters, repeating a long-standing narrative by Iranian authorities that attributes domestic unrest to foreign enemies. Iran frequently accuses Israel—its long-time adversary—of destabilizing the country, particularly following Israeli military strikes against Iran in June.
However, independent human rights organizations report lower figures. The U.S.-based group HRANA said on Saturday that it has confirmed 3,308 deaths, with an additional 4,382 cases still under investigation. HRANA also reported more than 24,000 arrests linked to the protests.
Meanwhile, Hengaw, a Norway-based Iranian Kurdish human rights group, noted that Kurdish areas in northwestern Iran were among the regions placed under the strictest security measures during protests in late December.
The significant gap between official Iranian figures and independent human rights data continues to raise concerns among international observers regarding transparency, accountability, and the scale of the crackdown.
