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Iranian authorities have arrested 139 foreigners in the central city of Yazd during recent anti-government protests, state media reported on Tuesday, although the death toll from the violence remains highly debated.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the Yazd police chief said those detained were “involved in organizing, inciting and directing riots, and in some cases were in contact with networks outside the country.” The nationalities of those arrested were not disclosed.
“During the investigation of the cases related to the recent riots, it was found that 139 of those arrested in these riots were foreign nationals,” said Ahmad Negahban.
Protests against the soaring cost of living erupted in Iran on December 28 and have since spread to nationwide anti-government demonstrations, drawing international condemnation of the violent crackdown.
Tehran’s regime admitted in January that more than 3,000 people had been killed in the violence, mostly members of its security forces and innocent bystanders, but continues to say the violence was an “act of terrorism”.
However, the US-based organization Human Rights Defenders News Agency confirmed 6,854 deaths, saying most of them were protesters killed by security forces.
Other human rights groups have warned that the real death toll is likely much higher, with Iranian insiders estimating that up to 30,000 people may have been killed.
Iranian authorities say the rally began as a peaceful demonstration and then escalated into a “riot” with killings and vandalism, incited by the United States and Israel, which Tehran considers archenemies.
The protests represent the most serious challenge to Iran’s regime since the 1979 Islamic revolution, with demonstrators calling for an end to clerical rule and demanding fundamental political change.
discussion at the table
International pressure has been mounting on Tehran over its response to the protests, with several countries imposing sanctions on Iranian officials for allegedly ordering the violent suppression of demonstrators.
The US government has threatened to intervene militarily over the killing of peaceful protesters and mass executions.
Last week, the Pentagon moved the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and several missile destroyers to the region, but it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump will decide to use force.
Iran’s government dismissed concerns about interference over the weekend, saying it was currently participating in negotiations with Washington.
However, Khamenei warned Washington that any conflict would spill over into the entire region.
“The United States should know that if it starts a war, it will turn into a regional war,” Khamenei said.
He added: “These threats are nothing new. U.S. officials have repeatedly talked about war in the past and said all options, including war, are on the table.”
The US president later dismissed Khamenei’s sword-wielding comments and said the deal was still under consideration.
“The largest, most powerful ship in the world is over there, and in the next few days it will be very close,” President Trump told reporters on Sunday.
“Hopefully we can come to an agreement. If we don’t, we’ll find out if he was right.”
Trump’s words were followed by the announcement that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with U.S. Special Representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Istanbul on Friday, according to President Massoud Pezeshkian.
“I have instructed the foreign ministers to pursue fair and impartial negotiations based on the principles of dignity, prudence and expediency, as long as appropriate circumstances exist, free of threats and undue expectations,” Pezeshkian wrote in X on Tuesday.
