Iran's Protest Death Toll: Official 2,000 vs. Opposition's 12,000 Claim

• Iranian authorities claim around 2,000 protest deaths, blaming "terrorists" and vandals, not security forces.
• Iran International, an opposition-linked website, alleges 12,000 killed by security forces, calling it the largest killing in Iran's modern history.
• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei attributes unrest to "hooligans" and foreign influence, denying state responsibility.
• Iran International claims killings were systematic, ordered by Khamenei, and carried out by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij forces.
• The 12,000 figure was compiled from internal security sources, eyewitnesses, medical officials, and hospital data, verified through multiple stages.

Why It Matters: A new report claims 12,000 protest deaths in Iran, vastly exceeding the official 2,000 figure.