Foreign reports say that at least 12,000 people have been killed in the violent crackdown by security forces across Iran in recent days to suppress protests. According to a statement issued by the editorial board of the Iran International news agency, these killings were not just the result of random clashes but a planned operation carried out on high-level orders.
The report says that the protesters were ordered to be shot with live ammunition on the direct orders of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and with the approval of the heads of government.
The majority of those killed were young people under the age of 30, and the shootings were carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij forces.
Iran has a strict press control to suppress information, and all media outlets except a few pro-government media outlets have been closed. The internet has been down since the 8th. Foreign media reports that security forces are forcibly removing satellite dishes and private CCTV camera recordings from homes.
Although the US has said it will attack Iran if the crackdown on protesters continues, Russia continues to support the Iranian government. It is reported that Russia is continuing to provide Iran with advanced technological equipment and intelligence support needed to identify and suppress protesters.