Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a speech today, addressing the human cost of the January 2026 anti-government protests, which resulted in thousands of deaths amid a brutal crackdown by security forces.
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Iran's Khamenei labels most January 2026 protest victims as martyrs in Feb 17 speech, dividing them into groups while blaming foreign enemies, amid ongoing memorials and clashes.
In his remarks, Khamenei expressed mourning for the bloodshed but drew sharp distinctions among the deceased, labeling most as "martyrs" while excluding those he deemed "leaders of the riots" and "corrupt instigators."
Khamenei divided the fatalities into three categories:
- Security Forces and Supporters: Including police, Basij members, and pro-regime civilians, whom he hailed as true martyrs for defending the Islamic Republic.
- Innocent Bystanders: Those killed during the unrest, which he attributed to "the enemy" (implying foreign interference from the U.S. and Israel), also classified as martyrs.
- Misled Young Protesters: Inexperienced youth who were "deceived" into participating and later regretted it; if killed, they too are considered martyrs deserving of mercy.
He emphasized that, aside from armed or foreign-funded agitators, the rest were "our children" and should be treated with compassion.
This framing appears aimed at de-escalating internal divisions while justifying the regime's response, which human rights groups estimate caused at least 36,500 deaths, far higher than the official tally of around 3,117.
The statement comes amid ongoing memorials and fresh clashes in cities like Abdanan and Mashhad, where IRGC forces have reportedly fired on mourners during 40-day rites for January victims. Critics view Khamenei's words as an attempt to reframe the uprising as a suppressed "coup" orchestrated by external foes, rather than a genuine popular revolt against economic hardship and clerical rule.
