On the evening of the 18th, Iranian President Pezeshkian wrote on social media that an attack on Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei is 'no different from launching an all-out war against the Iranian people.'
He stated that if the Iranian people are suffering, a major reason is 'the hostile attitude and inhumane sanctions by the US government and its allies over the years.'
Protests Have Caused 5,000 Deaths
An Iranian local official said on the 18th that authorities have confirmed at least 5,000 people have died in this wave of protests, including about 500 security personnel.
The local official told Reuters that some of the fiercest clashes and highest death tolls have occurred in Iran's northwestern Kurdish regions. These areas have long had Kurdish separatist activity, and in past unrest, some of the most violent conflicts have erupted there.
He accused 'Israel and foreign armed groups' of supporting and arming some protest participants.
In addition, the US-based human rights organization 'Human Rights Activists in Iran' (HRANA) stated that the death toll from Iran's protests has reached 3,308, with another 4,382 cases still under review. HRANA also noted the organization has confirmed over 24,000 people have been arrested.