Iran Embassy Rejects Social Media Claims of Indian Arrests During Protests

A wave of viral social media reports has claimed that several Indian nationals, including possibly six individuals, were among the thousands arrested during Iran's ongoing nationwide anti-government protests. These assertions, amplified by unverified foreign accounts on X, have sparked widespread concern among Indian netizens and diaspora communities, especially amid reports of a severe security crackdown resulting in hundreds of deaths.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has maintained a track record of accuracy on Iran developments through its network of regional sources, at least 544 people have been killed since the protests erupted, with 496 identified as protesters and 48 as security personnel. Over 10,600 individuals have reportedly been detained in the past two weeks. Iran's official authorities have not released comprehensive casualty or arrest figures, contributing to the information vacuum intensified by widespread internet disruptions and communication blackouts across the country.

The Iranian Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, categorically rejected the claims of Indian arrests, labeling them as "totally false" in a direct statement on X. The envoy urged the public and media to rely solely on credible and official sources for information regarding the unfolding situation in Iran, dismissing the circulating reports as misinformation originating from unreliable foreign accounts.

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The protests, which initially broke out on December 28 over the dramatic collapse of the Iranian rial and soaring inflation, have since transformed into widespread calls challenging the Islamic Republic's theocratic governance under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Demonstrations have been reported in major cities including Tehran, Mashhad, and Kerman, with online videos—allegedly transmitted via Starlink—showing protesters confronting security forces, waving lit mobile phones, and engaging in symbolic acts of defiance despite heavy-handed suppression.

The escalating crisis has drawn sharp international attention, with US President Donald Trump stating that his administration is evaluating a range of responses—including potential military action—while Iran has warned that any US or Israeli intervention would make American bases and Israeli targets "legitimate" for retaliation. As the situation remains highly volatile, the combination of severe repression, communication restrictions, and conflicting narratives continues to fuel global speculation and concern over the scale of the unrest.

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