This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
Protests in Iran have led to a severe crackdown by the regime, with the US estimating that over 1,000 Iranian citizens may have been murdered.
US pointman on Iran, Brian Hook, acknowledged that verifying information in Iran is difficult due to severe internet restrictions, but stated that 'many, many hundreds' of Iranians have been killed.
Hook also stated that 'many thousands' of Iranians have been wounded and at least 7,000 protesters have been detained.
US President Donald Trump called the crackdown 'brutal' and a 'horrible situation', vowing to respond 'strongly' to any threat from Iran to US interests.
Protests broke out on November 15 in Iran, after the government abruptly hiked fuel prices, exacerbating the country's economic struggles under US sanctions.
Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has softened his stance, stating that people killed in the violence would be considered 'martyrs' as long as they did not foment the unrest.
The US is basing its death toll in part on photos and videos sent by 32,000 people after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo invited Iranians to defy internet restrictions.
A senior Pentagon official did not rule out sending more forces to the region to counter Iran's regional role, but denied a report that Trump was considering sending another 14,000 troops.
