activists in Iran protesters killed
Tehran (dpa) — Nearly 650 demonstrators have been killed in the protests that have rocked Iran for the last two weeks, human rights activists said on Monday, as the head of the judiciary called for retribution for the security forces who have died.
The Oslo-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) put the total death toll at at least 648.
“At the same time, unverified reports indicate that at least several hundred people, and according to some estimates more than 6,000, may have been killed,” the organization wrote on X. It said the number of people arrested is estimated to exceed 10,000.
The information cannot currently be independently verified. Those inside Iran have reduced contact to the outside world, with the internet blocked since Thursday.
Earlier on Monday, the head of Iran’s judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, called for “decisive and effective measures” to be taken in retribution for the deaths of security forces and police officers killed during the protests.
Iranian state media and activists have reported dozens of deaths among security forces in the unrest in recent days.
Mohseni-Ejei said those who attacked the police forces or security facilities and urban infrastructure must be brought to justice as a priority.
activists in Iran protesters killed
Iran has been gripped since December 28 by its most serious protest wave for years. What began as protests by shopkeepers over a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial and mounting economic hardship quickly spiralled into nationwide demonstrations against the country’s hardline Islamic rulers.
Activists say the security forces have responded using brutal tactics, including firing tear gas and bullets.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned the anti-government demonstrations, saying, “At a certain point, we were dealing with terrorist operations.”
The Iranian state has meanwhile mobilized its own supporters in response to the mass protests.
The state broadcaster published extracts from the TV programme on Telegram showing demonstrations in several Iranian cities.
Participants waved flags and showed pictures of some members of the security forces that have been killed during the unrest.
Iran accuses Israel, US of stirring unrest
Iran has accused its arch-enemies Israel and the United States of escalating the protests, with the spokesman for the Parliamentary Commission for National Security on Monday referring to “a terrorist war waged by the enemies of the Iranian nation,” according to a report by the Tasnim news agency.
activists in Iran protesters killed
He alleged that Israel and the United States were exerting their influence to stir up unrest, adding that there was “open and covert evidence” to support the claim.
US President Donald Trump has assured participants in the mass protests of his support and has reportedly been briefed on options for military strikes on Iran, as well as non-military intervention.
His comments prompted Iran to threaten Israel and the US with counterstrikes in the event of a US attack in support of the protest movement.
They also led China – which maintains a close economic and strategic partnership with Iran – to call for non-interference.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday that Beijing opposes interference in the internal affairs of other states and rejects the use or threat of force in international relations.
She added that Beijing hopes that the government and people of Iran can overcome the current difficulties and maintain national stability.
Iran summons European ambassadors over protest solidarity
activists in Iran protesters killed
Iran has reacted quickly to statements of support for the protests, summoning the ambassadors of Germany, France and the United Kingdom to its Foreign Ministry over expressions of solidarity with protesters.
Germany and France confirmed that their ambassadors had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, while British government sources said the ambassador had attended a scheduled appointment at the ministry.
A statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster said videos of the unrest were shown during the meeting. The Foreign Ministry said “violent” acts had crossed the boundaries of peaceful demonstrations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a joint statement on Friday that they were “deeply concerned” by the violence and “strongly” condemned the deaths of protesters.
The European Parliament meanwhile banned Iranian diplomats and government representatives from entering its premises, with its President Roberta Metsola writing on X: “It cannot be business as usual.”
“This House will not aid in legitimising this regime that has sustained itself through torture, repression and murder,” she wrote.
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