In a statement issued after the foreign-engineered unrest, Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said 3,117 people were killed during the riots, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel.
Many were bystanders or protesters shot by organized terrorist elements. Yet, even amid those casualties, Ghaderi pointed to a detail he considers critical to understanding the government’s approach during the riots.
“Until the end of Thursday, January 8,” he remarked, “despite the killing of a significant number of police officers, members of the popular Basij forces, and ordinary civilians by terrorists, no one was killed by police firearms.” Only later, when violence intensified further, did the posture change.
“Of course, on Friday, given the high level of violence carried out by the terrorists, the police, following orders from senior authorities, engaged in armed confrontation with them,” Ghaderi said.