The agency has maintained a reliable track record over the years, accurately documenting demonstrations in Iran by leveraging a network of activists within the nation to verify all reported fatalities. However, The Associated Press has not been able to independently corroborate these figures.

Iranian authorities have not released a precise death toll. Nevertheless, on Saturday (Sunday AEST), the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledged that the protests have resulted in “several thousand” deaths, attributing the responsibility to the United States.

This marks the first time an Iranian leader has revealed the scale of casualties resulting from the protests that erupted on December 28, triggered by dissatisfaction with Iran’s struggling economy.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that 24,348 individuals have been detained amidst the crackdown on the protests.

Iranian officials have consistently accused the United States and Israel of inciting unrest within the country.

Tension with the United States has been high, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening Tehran with military action if his administration found the Islamic Republic was using deadly force against anti-government protesters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a post on X, blamed “longstanding enmity and inhumane sanctions” imposed by the US and its allies for any hardships the Iranian people might be facing.

“Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation,” he wrote.

During the protests, Trump told demonstrators that “ help is on the way ” and that his administration would “act accordingly” if the killing of demonstrators continued or if Iranian authorities executed detained protesters.

A family member of detained Iranian protester Erfan Soltani said on Sunday that the 26-year-old was in good physical health and was able to see his family days after his planned execution was postponed.

Somayeh, a 45-year-old close relative of Soltani who is living abroad, told the AP that his family had been told his execution would be set for Wednesday but it was postponed when they reached the prison in Karaj, a city northwest of Tehran.

“I ask everyone to help in securing Erfan’s freedom,” Somayeh, who asked to be identified by first name only for fear of government reprisal, said in a video message.

Trump, in an interview with Politico on Saturday, called for an end to Khamenei’s nearly 40-year reign, calling him as “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people”.

No protests have been reported for days in Iran, where the streets have returned to an uneasy calm. Instead, some Iranians chanted anti-Khamenei slogans from the windows of their homes on Saturday night, the chants reverberating around neighbourhoods in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan, witnesses said.

Authorities have also blocked access to the internet since January 8. On Saturday, very limited internet services functioned again briefly.

Access to some online services such as Google began working again on Sunday, although users said they could access only domestic websites, and email services continued to be blocked.