For the first time publicly, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has acknowledged that thousands of people were killed during the recent wave of protests across the country, saying some were killed in “horrific ways” and placing the blame on the United States.
Speaking on Saturday, Khamenei accused individuals he said were linked to the United States and Israel of fueling unrest, causing widespread destruction, and being responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iranian citizens. His remarks further heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
According to the Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 3,090 people were killed as security forces used excessive force to suppress the protests, although other sources suggest the death toll could be even higher. A near-total nationwide internet shutdown has made it extremely difficult to independently verify information and assess the full scale of the violence.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier urged Iranians to “continue protesting” and warned against the use of military force by Iranian security agencies. In response, Khamenei directly accused Trump of being responsible for the bloodshed, describing him as a “criminal” who must be held accountable for the unrest and its consequences.
Verified footage reviewed by Afrovera Verify (Afrovera Persian Desk) showed security forces firing on protesters in several locations. However, the prolonged shutdown of communications has continued to limit access to reliable, real-time information.
The internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that by Saturday, internet connectivity in Iran was operating at just 2% of normal levels. While protests have reportedly decreased in recent days, the information blackout has made it difficult to determine the current situation on the ground.
A resident of Shiraz in southern Iran told Afrovera Persian that although security forces remain heavily deployed and conduct regular patrols, daily life has largely returned to normal in many areas.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said it had intelligence suggesting Iran was preparing potential attacks on U.S. military facilities. It warned that Tehran would face a “very severe response” if such attacks were carried out and cautioned Iran against “testing” the United States.
These developments followed the decision by the United States and the United Kingdom to reduce staff numbers at the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Officials cited precautionary measures amid growing concerns that Iran could retaliate in response to rising regional tensions.
