Tehran, Febr 01 (V7N) — A senior Iranian government official has claimed that the country’s security forces were granted almost unrestricted authority, including the use of lethal force, to suppress anti-government protests across Iran.

According to a report by Iran International, the extraordinary powers were intended to instill fear among protesters and prevent the spread of unrest.

The senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no clear distinction in the orders issued to security personnel. “Everyone was treated as a target — ordinary citizens, protesters, or anyone present,” the official reportedly said, alleging that security forces were effectively given a “blank check” to stop the protests by any means.

While Iran’s official death toll from the unrest stands at around 3,000, Iran International claims that its investigation — based on internal documents and eyewitness accounts — indicates that more than 36,500 people may have been killed.

The report further alleges that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei personally authorized the crackdown.

According to the findings, the suppression of protests was carried out by units affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Basij militia, and the Quds Force, alongside foreign-trained forces.

The report claims that many of the trained personnel involved in the crackdown came from Chechnya, Iraq, Pakistan, and Sudan.

Iranian authorities have not officially responded to the allegations contained in the report.

END/SMA/AJ