WANA (Jan 19) – Iran’s parliamentary head of national security said on Monday that the final death toll from recent unrest will be announced only after a comprehensive review, stressing that some of those killed had no involvement in the violence.

 

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told reporters on the sidelines of an open parliamentary session that releasing figures without proper analysis could lead to misleading narratives and political exploitation. He said relevant institutions are still reviewing field reports and that final figures will be released once assessments are completed.

 

Azizi stated that protest, criticism, and dissent are recognized as legitimate rights of citizens under Iran’s official framework, while drawing a distinction between peaceful protest and organized violence. He said demonstrations that began in early January with economic and trade-related grievances later evolved into incidents that resulted in the deaths of security personnel as well as civilians.

 

Addressing the international dimension of the unrest, Azizi accused the United States and Israel of attempting to exploit Iran’s internal situation following what he described as their failure in a brief military confrontation. He claimed that efforts to inflate casualty figures and shape public opinion were part of a broader pressure strategy against Tehran.

 

Azizi also said there are currently no plans for negotiations with the United States, arguing that Washington has undermined the basic principles of diplomacy. According to him, turning dialogue into confrontation has made any return to talks unlikely under the present conditions.

 

On domestic security measures, Azizi confirmed that temporary internet restrictions were imposed after authorities found that approximately 49 percent of calls for unrest had been organized through the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He said online platforms were misused during the unrest and that restrictions were implemented as part of security management efforts.

 

He added that decisions regarding the restoration of full internet access will be made once security conditions stabilize. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the National Security Council are expected to review the issue in the coming days.

 

Azizi urged the judiciary to take firm legal action against individuals involved in organizing, financing, or facilitating violent acts, citing existing laws on cooperation with hostile states. At the same time, he emphasized the need to distinguish between protesters and those responsible for violence, and called on the government to address economic and social grievances.

 

He also praised domestic media outlets for what he described as responsible coverage of recent events, saying accurate reporting plays a key role in shaping public understanding.

 

In closing, Azizi said internal political differences do not undermine Iran’s territorial or political unity, warning that any external action based on what he called “miscalculations” would be met with a proportional response.