Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Feb 2: The office of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has released an official list naming 2,986 people who were killed during the recent wave of unrest across the country. The list includes both civilians and members of the security forces.
In a statement published on its website on Sunday, the president’s office said the data was compiled on the basis of records provided by the Iranian Legal Medicine Organisation, following directives issued by Pezeshkian. According to the statement, the overall death toll stands at 3,117, with 131 victims yet to be formally identified. Authorities said a supplementary list would be made public once the remaining identities are confirmed, according to Xinhua news agency.
Emphasising transparency and accountability, the statement described all those killed as “children of Iran” and assured that the concerns of bereaved families would not be ignored.
The unrest followed weeks of protests that erupted across several Iranian cities from late December through January, triggered by the sharp depreciation of the national currency, the rial. What began as largely peaceful demonstrations later escalated into violent clashes, resulting in casualties and damage to public infrastructure, including mosques, government buildings, and banks. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on external interference, particularly from the United States and Israel.
Amid the domestic fallout, tensions between Tehran and Washington have continued to rise. Last week, Iran’s Army Chief, Amir Hatami, issued a strong warning to the United States, saying any miscalculation would threaten not only American security but also that of Israel and the wider West Asia region.
Addressing a national festival in Tehran, Hatami said the Iranian armed forces were on full alert and closely monitoring developments in the region. “The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are in complete defence and military readiness. We have our finger on the trigger,” he said, adding that any hostile action would have far-reaching regional consequences.
Hatami also welcomed statements from neighbouring countries indicating they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used for actions against Iran, noting that instability targeting Iran would inevitably destabilise the entire region. He added that any effort to resolve tensions must be based on respect for the Iranian nation.
The warning comes against the backdrop of escalating rhetoric between Tehran and Washington. US President Donald Trump recently said a “massive armada,” led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, was moving towards Iran, cautioning that time was running out for Tehran to reach an agreement with the United States.
On Sunday, Trump further remarked that if Iran failed to secure a nuclear deal with Washington, it would soon become clear whether Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was correct in warning that a US attack could spark a wider regional conflict. Earlier the same day, Khamenei reiterated that any war initiated by the United States against Iran would inevitably turn into a regional war.