Tehran appears to be giving its own account of human life losses, dramatically escalating the previously known death tolls in Iran. Specifically, approximately 2,000 people have been killed in the protests in Iran, an Iranian official told Reuters news agency. The official added that this number includes security personnel and blamed “terrorists” for the deaths.
Prior to this, the latest figures we had for the death toll were at least 646 people, which came from the US-based NGO Human Rights Activists. The ongoing internet shutdown in Iran means these numbers are not the total count and makes it difficult to extract information from the country, as Sky News reminds us.
Merz’s message on Iran: The regime is in its final days
For his part, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during his visit to India, expressed his belief that the Iranian government, which finds itself in a difficult position due to the ongoing protests, is in its “final days and weeks.” He also reiterated calls to Iranian authorities to end violence against protesters, saying:
“If a regime can only maintain itself in power through violence, then it is essentially at its end. I believe we are now seeing the final days and weeks of this regime. In any case, it has no legitimacy through elections with the population. The population is now rising up against this regime.” Merz also said he hopes there is an opportunity to “end this conflict peacefully.”
More to follow…
