Iran Unrest: Nearly 3,000 dead in anti-Khamenei protests; President’s office publishes list | World News

seoul: The office of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian published a list containing the names of 2,986 people killed during the recent events in the country.

In a statement published on its website on Sunday (local time), the president’s office said the list, which includes both civilians and security personnel, was compiled from data provided by the Forensic Medicine Organization of Iran on Pezeshkian’s orders.

The office said the total death toll was 3,117, meaning 131 victims were unidentified. It was promised to publish an additional list once the identities are determined, Xinhua news agency reported.

The statement emphasized the commitment to transparency and accountability, stated that all victims were children of Iran, and promised that no grieving family would be heard.

Weeks of protests over the sharp depreciation of the rial swept through cities across Iran from late December to January. The initially peaceful demonstrations escalated into clashes that resulted in casualties and damage to public property, including mosques, government buildings and banks. Tehran blamed the United States and Israel for the unrest.

According to the official news agency IRNA, Iranian Chief of General Staff Amir Hatami warned last week that if the United States made any mistake, it would definitely endanger its security, that of Israel and the entire West Asian region.

Speaking at a national festival in Tehran, Hatami emphasized that Iran’s armed forces are prepared despite rising tensions with Washington.

“Today, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are in full defense and military readiness and are closely monitoring the enemy’s movements in the region. Our finger is on the trigger,” he said.

“If the enemy makes any mistakes, it will undoubtedly endanger his own security, that of Israel and that of the region.”

He also welcomed the statements of neighboring countries that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used against Iran, stating that these countries “know that any distrust towards Iran will make the entire region insecure.”

Hatami emphasized that if the other side is willing to solve the problem, it should treat the Iranian nation with respect.

The warning came at a time of rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. US President Donald Trump had previously warned that “time is running out” for Tehran to reach an agreement with the US, saying that a “huge navy” led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was advancing towards Iran.

Meanwhile, Trump said on Sunday that “we will find out” whether Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was right to warn that a US attack could spark a regional war if Tehran fails to reach a nuclear deal with Washington.

Khamenei said at a meeting in Tehran early Sunday that if the United States starts a war against Iran, “it will be a regional war.”