Iran protests death toll 'over 16,000' as Khamenei blames bloodshed on US and Israel
The demonstrations in Iran began on December 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency
A new report has found that at least 16,000 protestors have been killed in the anti-government protests in Iran, after the nation's Supreme Leader blamed the thousands of casualties on the US and Israel.
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was the first senior Iranian authority figure to admit the number of deaths during the recent protests had run into the thousands, adding that some demonstrators were killed in an "inhuman, savage manner".
But a new report from doctors on the ground has suggested at least 16,500 protesters have been killed and 330,000 injured.
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Most of the victims were killed or injured over two days of bloodshed in the most brutal crackdown by the clerical regime in its 47-year existence, according to the Sunday Times.
On Saturday, the Supreme Leader accused Donald Trump of being directly involved in the violence, branding the US president a "criminal" responsible for the "casualties, damages and slander he has levelled against the Iranian nation" during the protests.
"Those linked to Israel and US caused massive damages and killed several thousands," Khamenei said, according to state media.
"The latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the US president personally became involved."
He went on to warn that those countries would face consequences, but added that Iran wanted to avoid a wider war.
Khamenei's remarks marked the first time the country's top authority has acknowledged that thousands have died in the protests, which began over the ailing economy and soon morphed into protests directly challenging the country's theocracy.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency on Friday had put the death toll, which continues to rise, at 2,797.
The Ayatollah previously dubbed the protestors as "foreign terrorists" acting on behalf of Mr Trump.
The demonstrations in Iran began on December 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at more than 1.4 million to one US dollar.
Iran's economy has been squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear programme.
The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran's theocracy.
Iran's attorney general warned that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an "enemy of God," a death penalty charge.
Days after US President Donald Trump pledged "help is on its way" for the protesters, both the demonstrations and the prospect of imminent US retaliation appeared to have receded.
One diplomat told the Associated Press that top officials from Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar had raised concerns with Mr Trump that a US military intervention would shake the global economy and destabilise an already volatile region.
Yet the Trump administration has warned it will act if Iran executes detained protesters.
Iran and the US traded angry accusations on Thursday at a session of the United Nations Security Council, with US ambassador Mike Waltz saying that Mr Trump "has made it clear that all options are on the table to stop the slaughter".