Iran has announced an official death toll of 3,117 from the foreign-backed riots that began in late December, triggered by a worsening economy due to Western sanctions and the collapse of the national currency. The state-run Martyrs Foundation said 2,427 of those kil-led were security personnel or innocent bystanders, with the remaining deaths attributed to protesters. Iranian authorities deny that security forces deliberately kil-led protesters.

Western based human rights groups dispute the figures, such as the US-based Hrana, which says the true toll is at least 4,519 deaths, including more than 4,200 protesters.

The unrest has heightened regional and international tensions, with Iranian officials blaming the US and Israel who openly fueled and supported the rioters in the regime-change attempt. Senior Iranian military figures have issued warnings to both countries, even as Israeli leaders publicly called for regime change and Washington signalled openness to talks with Tehran. The competing narratives underline how volatile the situation remains, both inside Iran and across the region.