Following recent unrest in Iran, US President Donald Trump has said he has been informed that the “killings” in the country have stopped. In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister claimed that “terrorist elements” were responsible for the violence, accusing them of deliberately increasing casualties to provoke US intervention.
Violent protests erupted in several Iranian cities amid worsening economic conditions and a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial.
Reports on the death toll vary widely. Some sources claim that approximately 48 security personnel and 483 protesters were killed, while others estimate that the number of fatalities has exceeded 2,000.
Earlier, President Trump warned Iranian authorities that if protesters were violently suppressed, the United States would intervene in support of them and take “strong action” against Iran.
According to reports, Trump has now stated that “credible sources” informed him that the killings have ceased and that executions would also be halted. He warned, however, that if “killings or executions” were to resume, the United States would respond.
Speaking to Fox News, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the high number of casualties resulted from actions by what he described as “terrorists armed by Israel.”
He claimed these groups, acting under a pre-planned scheme, opened fire on both police and civilians to increase the death toll and create justification for US intervention.
Araghchi did not specify the number of those killed but alleged that Iranian security forces were subjected to brutal acts similar to those carried out by the Islamic State (Daesh). He claimed that some personnel were beheaded or set on fire.
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