Italy Denounces Iran’s "Violent Repression" of Demonstrators
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called in Mohammad Reza Sabouri to address the mounting casualties from protests that have engulfed the Islamic Republic, according to reports emerging Tuesday. The diplomatic rebuke signals growing international alarm over the violent response to demonstrators.
Tajani declared the bloodshed "absolutely unacceptable," emphasizing that protesters are enduring an "extremely high price" for their opposition to the regime.
"The women and men of Iran are fighting in the streets, paying a very high price in blood, suffering, imprisonment, and likely torture," Tajani was quoted by an Italian news agency. "Dialogue does not mean passively accepting the spectacle of a regime violently repressing its own citizens."
The protests, which erupted last month, stem from a devastating economic crisis and the Iranian currency's catastrophic plunge to record lows. The turmoil represents one of the most significant challenges to Tehran's leadership in recent memory.
Iranian authorities have deflected blame for the unrest, alleging foreign interference. Government officials have accused the US and Israel of backing the "riots" and "terrorism."
Official death counts remain unavailable from Iranian authorities. However, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a US-based rights group, estimates that the death toll has reached more than 2,000, including security forces and protesters, with over 1,000 injured.
HRANA also reported that at least 10,721 people have been detained in 585 locations nationwide, including 187 cities in all 31 provinces.
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