Iranian General Acknowledges Over 300 Dead in Unrest, Observers Point to More

Rights group says more than 18,000 have been detained

Protesters chant slogans during a protest over the death of a woman who was detained by the morality police, in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 21, 2022. Obtained by AP

An Iranian general on Monday acknowledged that more than 300 people have been killed in the unrest surrounding nationwide protests, giving the first official word on casualties in two months.

Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the aerospace division of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said more than 300 people have been killed, including “martyrs,” an apparent reference to the government’s security forces.