The Iranian government held a mass funeral on Wednesday in Tehran for more than 100 members of the security forces and others who were killed in the protests, which have spread across the country, NDTV reported.
Mass funeral in Tehran
The funeral was attended by thousands. People were waving flags of the Islamic Republic, and they prayed for the departed outside Tehran University. The US-based HRANA rights group has confirmed the deaths of more than 2,400 protesters across Iran.
The authorities have blamed the protesters for the deaths of the security personnel. AFP reported that the funeral attendees described the slain security officers as "martyrs."
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How many people have died in Iran till now?
Human rights group HRANA has said that 2,403 protesters, including 12 children, have been killed in the protests. The human rights group also reported that 147 security personnel and supporters of the regime have also died, as well as nine bystanders, which has brought the total number of deaths to 2,559.
While no official figures on the number of dead have been released by the Iranian authorities, human rights groups based elsewhere have been able to form an estimate based on civilian reports. The work has become even more difficult after internet services were suspended in the country.
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US President Donald Trump has issued stern warnings to Iran and has said that if people continue to die in the country during the protests, the government "will have to pay a very big price."
The protests against Ayatollah Khamenei's regime have spread across 180 cities and towns in all 31 provinces of Iran, as demonstrators took to the streets to protest against Iran's crumbling economy. The protesters have since been met with force by the authorities, and internet services have been shut down throughout the country.
