The Iranian Ministry of Interior announced that 200 people have been killed during the recent protests that have taken place in Iran since mid-September, which is a much lower number than what was reported by human rights groups.
The death toll includes - according to a statement by the ministry - members of the security forces and civilians who were killed during what it described as "terrorist attacks" and security unrest in Iranian cities, in addition to members of armed and separatist groups.
The statement indicated that what the country witnessed were not peaceful protests, but sabotage operations aimed at destabilizing security and spreading violence.
The statement confirmed the smuggling of large quantities of weapons to Iran to expand the circle of "terrorist operations".
The Iranian Interior Ministry indicated that the security services dealt leniently and patiently with the protests and distinguished between the protesters and the perpetrators of acts of violence and vandalism, noting that any attempt to disturb security and any action that affects the safety of citizens will be dealt with strictly.
On the other hand, Iranian Parliament Speaker Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf said that whoever he described as an "enemy" is targeting, through the recent events in the country, national unity and Iranian territorial integrity.
He added, "The enemy has been seeking to bring down the regime of the Islamic Republic in Iran from the beginning, and is using the most despicable methods to implement this goal, and has duplicity in its dealings with Tehran."
The Iranian official stressed that the "enemy" also targeted the constitution and all manifestations of patriotism, identity and national security, and wants to obstruct Iran's progress, as he put it.
It is noteworthy that the Iranian authorities had announced a few days ago the killing of more than 300 people during the unrest in the country to protest the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, while she was being held by the morality police in Tehran.
The commander of the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, said - in a video recording published by the "Mehr" news agency - that "everyone in the country was affected by the death of this woman. I do not have the latest numbers, but I believe that more than 300 martyrs fell in the country, including children. since this incident occurred.