Iran Unrest: Official Claims 5,000 Protest Deaths, Blames 'Terrorists'

• An Iranian official stated that at least 5,000 people, including 500 security personnel, died during recent unrest, blaming "terrorists and armed rioters" for targeting civilians.
• The protests, sparked by economic hardship on December 28, escalated into nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to clerical rule, marking the deadliest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
• Iranian authorities, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused the US and Israel of orchestrating the violence, while a US-based rights group, HRANA, documented over 3,300 deaths and 24,000 arrests.
• US President Donald Trump warned of potential intervention if killings continued and called for new leadership in Iran, while Iran's judiciary indicated executions for those charged with "waging war against God" could proceed.
• The deadliest clashes reportedly occurred in Iran's northwestern Kurdish regions, with claims of armed Kurdish groups attempting to cross from Iraq, and a heavy security crackdown has largely suppressed the protests, alongside continued internet restrictions.

Why It Matters: An Iranian official confirmed 5,000 protest deaths, blaming external forces, while rights groups report mass arrests.