The death toll from ongoing protests in Iran has risen to 4,029, according to a report released Monday by a US-based human rights organization.
The group said at least 26,015 people had been arrested by the 23rd day of nationwide demonstrations, while no fewer than 5,811 protesters sustained serious injuries, The Caspian Post reports, citing foreign media.
Iran has been gripped by waves of unrest since late December, when protests first erupted on December 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and deteriorating economic conditions. The demonstrations later spread to multiple cities across the country.
Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of supporting what they describe as “armed rioters,” alleging that the groups carried out a series of attacks in public places nationwide.
US President Donald Trump had repeatedly warned that Washington would “hit hard” if protesters were killed, though he later praised Tehran for reportedly canceling hundreds of scheduled executions.
