Iran Official Says Protest Deaths Near 5,000 as Khamenei Acknowledges ‘Thousands’

Overview

• An Iranian official told Reuters the death toll stands at about 5,000, including roughly 500 security personnel, a figure higher than NGO counts.
• Khamenei publicly recognized thousands of deaths for the first time and accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the unrest.
• Iran’s judiciary signaled that some detainees could face capital punishment under mohareb charges, despite recent U.S. claims that executions were canceled.
• NetBlocks reported connectivity near zero after brief restorations, complicating confirmation of casualty figures and on-the-ground accounts.
• International fallout widened as Europe’s aviation regulator advised avoiding Iranian airspace and Israel alleged the custody death of protester Erfan Soltani.