Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a speech Thursday accused the United States and Israel of stoking the protests as a “cowardly revenge... for the defeat in the 12-Day War”. The group is sanctioned as a terrorist entity by countries including Australia, Canada and the United States, and campaigners have long urged similar moves from the EU and UK. ‘National kill-switch’Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities on Wednesday said 3117 people were killed. Iranian authorities reported 3,117 deaths from protests, but rights groups claim the toll is much higher. On Thursday alone, state TV announced over 200 more arrests in provinces including Kermanshah in the west and Isfahan in central Iran.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 22, 2026 22:29 UTC