SUNTV Global Channel | January 18, 2026 | International
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly acknowledged for the first time that thousands of people were killed during weeks of nationwide protests against the Islamic regime, marking one of the deadliest crackdowns in the country’s recent history.
The rare admission came on Saturday during a televised address, where Khamenei confirmed that the death toll from the unrest, which erupted in late December, had reached the thousands. The protests were sparked by worsening economic conditions, rising living costs, and growing public frustration across the country.
However, the Iranian leader stopped short of accepting responsibility for the bloodshed, instead accusing external forces—particularly the United States—of orchestrating the violence.
According to CNN, Khamenei directly blamed US President Donald Trump, describing him as a “criminal” who “openly encouraged” protesters and promised them American military support. He said Trump bore responsibility “both for the casualties and the damage” recorded during the unrest.
Despite acknowledging the scale of deaths, Khamenei made no reference to allegations by eyewitnesses and international human rights groups that Iranian security forces used live ammunition, fired on unarmed protesters from rooftops, and deployed drones during the crackdown.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has estimated that more than 3,000 people were killed, a figure CNN noted it could not independently verify.
One protester in Tehran, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, described scenes of extreme violence.
“They were aiming with lasers and shooting people in the face,” the witness said. “They massacred people… they killed our most beautiful, bravest youths—our children.”
Khamenei categorised the victims into two groups: those he claimed were “supported, funded and trained by the United States and Israel,” and others he described as “naive individuals” allegedly manipulated by protest organisers.
He accused protesters of attacking public infrastructure, including power facilities, mosques, schools, banks, hospitals, and shops.
“By harming the people, they killed several thousand of them,” Khamenei said. “Some were killed with a force that was inhuman—completely savage. These actions were part of a pre-planned sedition.”
Iranian authorities have repeatedly blamed foreign interference for internal unrest, often without providing concrete evidence. During the protests, President Trump had publicly urged demonstrators to persist and “take over” state institutions, assuring them that “help is on its way.”
“We consider the US President a criminal—for the casualties, the damage, and the insults against the Iranian nation,” Khamenei said, according to excerpts published on his official website.
As political blame continues to dominate official narratives, the identities and personal stories of many victims remain unacknowledged. Across Iran, families are mourning loved ones lost during protests driven by economic hardship, unemployment, and the daily struggle to survive under worsening living conditions.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to follow developments surrounding the protests and international reactions.
