Iranian official confirms 11 deaths during unrest

At least 11 people have been killed during recent unrest in Iran, said Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, a member of the Islamic Republic's government council on information technology.

Commenting on international criticism, Shamsolvaezin said that 11 reported fatalities in a country of roughly 90 million people did not constitute grounds for accusations against Iran by US President Donald Trump, Tasnim New Agency reports.

He further claimed that external actors were orchestrating the disturbances, expressing full confidence that the unrest was being directed from abroad, Tasnim reports.

The official said the Trump Administration wants to “encourage Iranians to take to the streets, and then, under the pretext of saving the people, attack Iran and implement the Venezuelan model here.” He noted that the government had taken a “trial and error” approach, holding talks with protest representatives, changing the Central Bank governor and handing out money—1 million tomans, or about 7 dollars, per month to each Iranian for the next four months, “trying to buy time.”

Mass protests continue across Iran, escalating into clashes with security forces. The unrest began on December 28 when Tehran market traders demonstrated against a sharp fall in the national currency, but has since spread nationwide, with demonstrations reported in all 31 provinces.

On January 9, videos circulating online showed a building of the state broadcaster IRIB in Isfahan set on fire. In Tehran, protesters chanted slogans calling for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the return of exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi.

Pahlavi expressed gratitude to President Trump for reaffirming support for holding Iran’s regime accountable, urging the international community to help restore communications after the government cut internet, landline, and possibly satellite signals.

By Vafa Guliyeva