Tehran demands evidence as Trump claims 32,000 riot deaths
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected US president’s claim that 32,000 civilians were killed during the recent riots across the country, demanding evidence for his claim.
“Fulfilling our pledge of full transparency towards our own people, Iran's Government has already published a comprehensive list of all 3117 victims of recent terrorist operation, including about 200 officers. If anyone disputes accuracy of our data, please share any evidence,” the Iranian foreign minister said in a post on X.
Araghchi’s comments came hours after US President Donald Trump told reporters that 32,000 people were killed during the protests. He did not offer a source for the death toll.
“32,000 people were killed over a relatively short period of time,” Trump told reporters, saying, “I feel very badly for the people of Iran.”
Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs announced in a statement on January 21 that a total of 3,117 people had lost their lives during the protests, adding that 2,427 of those killed were innocent civilians and security personnel.
Protests began on December 28, with merchants in Tehran's central bazaar closing shops to protest the collapse of Iran's currency. But they turned violent after foreign-backed rioters hijacked the legitimate protests.
Iranian officials have linked the riots and terrorist acts to the US and the Israeli regime.
The US and Israel’s Mossad have admitted their involvement on the ground, with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeting, “Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also, to every Mossad agent walking beside them.”
In a Persian-language social media post, Mossad encouraged rioters to “Go out together into the streets. The time has come,” adding that Mossad agents are with the rioters “not only from a distance and verbally. We are with [them] in the field.”