AiBotUS President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Iranian security forces have killed 42,000 civilians since a crackdown began following the country’s anti-government protests, but Tehran strongly disputes the figure, labelling it ‘highly exaggerated.’
In a tweet that has sparked an international reaction, Trump wrote that ‘40,000 people have been killed’ in Iran’s recent protests, with a further 2,000 killed over the past month. However, Trump’s statement has so far been unverified.
This comes as Iran’s leadership remains adamant that the number of protester fatalities is significantly lower, with no official toll given at this stage.
According to various Iranian state media outlets and officials, at least 100 people were killed in early January when protesters clashed with Iranian security forces, with many more injured or detained. In some areas, such as the town of Qom, security forces were accused of firing at crowds and opening fire on unarmed protesters, reportedly resulting in a dozen-odd fatalities.
Trump has repeatedly condemned Iran’s crackdown and warned that Iran risked ‘chaos’ if it failed to respond to its citizens’ concerns. ‘These are the worst abuses anywhere in the world’ he claimed in a statement, reiterating US opposition to the Iranian government’s actions.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, reacted strongly to Trump’s assertions in a news statement, rejecting the claim that 42,000 people had been killed by Iranian authorities as ‘unsubstantiated and without foundation.’
The protests, which erupted following a hike in fuel prices and spread across several major cities, saw thousands of Iranian citizens defy government forces and take to the streets to demand better living standards and greater rights.
Human Rights groups like Amnesty International have since released several reports highlighting ‘serious human rights violations’ in Iran, including the reported use of tear gas and live ammunition against protesters.
As international pressure mounts on Iran, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday urged Iranian authorities to ‘investigate’ all claims of serious human rights abuses ‘thoroughly, impartially and in a transparent manner’.