• Iran's Khamenei blames Trump for "thousands" killed during recent protests.
• US and Israel accused of inciting unrest and contributing to casualties.
• Over 3,000 deaths reported, with continued internet restrictions in Iran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly acknowledged that “several thousand” people died during the recent unrest, marking the first official recognition of the high casualty figure from the protests. Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of being a “criminal,” claiming he is responsible for the "casualties, damages, and slander" inflicted on the Iranian nation during the protests which erupted over economic hardships and political grievances. He emphasized that foreign powers, particularly the US and Israel, were behind the violence that took place during the demonstrations, asserting that these entities had provided support to what he termed "seditionists." He stated, “The latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the US president personally became involved,” according to Al Jazeera, India Times, South China Morning Post, CBS News, and Middle East Eye.

Khamenei alleged that the ongoing protests were instigated as part of a broader American plot to undermine Iran, claiming that this unrest aimed to restore US dominance over the nation. During his speech, he declared, "We will not drag the country into war, but we will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished," thus asserting Iran's stance amidst rising tensions. He criticized Trump’s involvement and characterized the protests as a significant threat to national sovereignty, as articulated in his remarks, which were echoed by Channel News Asia, Anadolu Agency, and BBC.

Reports from human rights organizations indicate that over 3,000 people have lost their lives due to the violent crackdown on protests, although Khamenei refrained from providing specific official figures. The Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency has suggested that the death toll could be as high as 3,090, with numerous individuals still unaccounted for since mass arrests followed the protests. The Iranian government has maintained near-complete internet blackouts to manage information flow, complicating efforts for independent verification and communication within the country, as emphasized by India Times, India Times, and Middle East Eye.