Iran has acknowledged for the first time that the death toll from its ongoing nationwide protests has reached a staggering figure, with an Iranian official telling Reuters that around 2,000 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed over the past two weeks. The admission marks the most serious official confirmation yet of the scale of violence unleashed during one of the most intense internal crises the Islamic Republic has faced in years.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official blamed what he described as “terrorist elements” for the deaths of both protesters and security personnel, but declined to provide a detailed breakdown of casualties. The statement comes amid growing scrutiny from the international community and mounting concern from human rights organisations, which had previously reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests but lacked confirmation from Iranian authorities.

The unrest was triggered by worsening economic conditions, including soaring inflation, unemployment and shortages, and has rapidly spread across multiple provinces. Observers describe the protests as the gravest challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership in at least three years, unfolding against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions following Israeli and US strikes last year.

Iran’s leadership, in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has sought to balance a narrative of tolerance with force. Officials have publicly acknowledged that protests driven by economic hardship are legitimate, even as security forces have carried out a sweeping crackdown. Tehran has repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of instigating the unrest, arguing that armed groups and foreign-backed “terrorists” have hijacked otherwise peaceful demonstrations.

Information from inside the country has been increasingly difficult to verify. Authorities have imposed severe communications restrictions, including near-total internet blackouts in recent days, severely limiting independent reporting. Nevertheless, videos circulating online and verified by Reuters show nighttime clashes in several cities, with scenes of gunfire, burning vehicles and damaged buildings underscoring the violence of the confrontation.

As protests continue, the scale of casualties revealed by the official admission is likely to intensify both domestic anger and international pressure on Tehran.

Iran has acknowledged for the first time that the death toll from its ongoing nationwide protests has reached a staggering figure, with an Iranian official telling Reuters that around 2,000 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed over the past two weeks. The admission marks the most serious official confirmation yet of the scale of violence unleashed during one of the most intense internal crises the Islamic Republic has faced in years.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official blamed what he described as “terrorist elements” for the deaths of both protesters and security personnel, but declined to provide a detailed breakdown of casualties. The statement comes amid growing scrutiny from the international community and mounting concern from human rights organisations, which had previously reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests but lacked confirmation from Iranian authorities.

The unrest was triggered by worsening economic conditions, including soaring inflation, unemployment and shortages, and has rapidly spread across multiple provinces. Observers describe the protests as the gravest challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership in at least three years, unfolding against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions following Israeli and US strikes last year.

Iran’s leadership, in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has sought to balance a narrative of tolerance with force. Officials have publicly acknowledged that protests driven by economic hardship are legitimate, even as security forces have carried out a sweeping crackdown. Tehran has repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of instigating the unrest, arguing that armed groups and foreign-backed “terrorists” have hijacked otherwise peaceful demonstrations.

Information from inside the country has been increasingly difficult to verify. Authorities have imposed severe communications restrictions, including near-total internet blackouts in recent days, severely limiting independent reporting. Nevertheless, videos circulating online and verified by Reuters show nighttime clashes in several cities, with scenes of gunfire, burning vehicles and damaged buildings underscoring the violence of the confrontation.

As protests continue, the scale of casualties revealed by the official admission is likely to intensify both domestic anger and international pressure on Tehran.