Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has spoken about recent protests. He said many lives were lost. This is the first time he has admitted this publicly. Khamenei blamed the United States and Israel for the unrest. He called the US president "criminal."
The protests started on December 28th. People were unhappy with the economy. The protests grew and challenged the government. They were the biggest disturbances in Iran for many years.
Human rights groups say many people died. The U.S.-based HRANA confirmed 3,090 deaths. They also reported over 22,000 arrests. Some groups think the real number of deaths is higher. Security forces used deadly force. Videos show the violent response. The government called the protests "riots."
To stop the protests, the government cut off the internet. This made it hard to share information. Internet use was very low. Khamenei said people from Israel and the US caused "damage." He said they created chaos.
Detainees may face harsh punishment. They could be accused of helping rioters. The government wants to stop future protests. This situation shows deep problems in Iran. The government is determined to stay in power. The world is watching and worried about human rights.