Overview
- Khamenei blamed the U.S. president for the casualties and called the unrest a U.S. plot, urging authorities to “break the back of the seditious.”
- Iran Human Rights reports at least 3,428 people killed since protests that began on December 28 escalated in early January.
- Rights groups say authorities cut internet access to conceal the brutality of the crackdown.
- The White House said all options remain on the table and warned of serious consequences if repression continues, as Trump claimed he was told the killings had stopped.
- Russia defended Iran at the UN and criticized Washington for stoking tensions, with the Kremlin noting Putin spoke to Iran’s president; families told BBC Persian they were pressured to stage pro-government displays as images circulated of anti-regime symbolism.