Iran has witnessed widespread demonstrations since late December, with many students participating. The protests have been met with a brutal crackdown, and the casualty figures remain unclear and impossible to verify due to an internet shutdown that has prevented independent verification.
Tehran has acknowledged 3,117 deaths, while independent sources including human rights groups and medical professionals cite figures ranging from several thousand to 32,000 people, as insiders in Iran told Euronews in mid-January.
After Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, the regime blocked internet access and threatened severe punishment, including execution, for those involved in uprisings.
The latest threats by Tehran indicate that the regime remains determined to hold onto power at any cost, even if it means sacrificing the lives of its own citizens.
The recent statements made by high-ranking officials illustrate the regime's growing desperation to suppress dissent, using extreme measures to prevent a loss of control.
