The editorial board of Iran International Network said in a statement that the Islamic Republic has killed at least 12,000 people during nationwide protests in Iran, vowing that the scale of the violence would not be silenced.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the network said that in recent days it had received scattered but “shocking and disturbing” reports about the crackdown. It said it then undertook extensive efforts, including professional fact-checking, to reach what it described as a more accurate assessment of the scale of the violence and killings during the recent protests.
Iran International said information obtained from the Supreme National Security Council of Iran and the presidential office indicates that the killings were carried out on the direct order of Ali Khamenei, with the explicit knowledge and approval of the heads of all three branches of government.
According to the statement, the information also indicates that the Supreme National Security Council issued an order authorising the use of live ammunition against protesters.
The Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed the figures cited by Iran International. The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly rejected allegations of widespread unlawful killings during the protests.
