WANA (Jan 17) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei officially confirmed today that several thousand people were killed during the recent unrest in the country.

 

In his speech, Khamenei described the events as a “sedition” in which ignorant and misguided individuals committed serious crimes, including the destruction of 250 mosques and 250 educational and scientific centers. He said the unrest caused damage to the electricity sector, food stores, and civilians, and that “thousands of people were killed”, with some subjected to inhumane attacks.

 

Since last Thursday, unrest in Iran has taken on a violent character. The disturbances have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries among police, Basij forces, and civilians. Initial estimates indicate that public property has sustained around $150 million in damages.

 

No official agency has yet provided precise figures on the number of casualties or the extent of the damage.