Iranian general admits over 300 people have been killed in protests

An Iranian military official has acknowledged that at least 300 people have been killed in nationwide protests sparked by the death of a young woman in police custody for “inappropriate attire.”

General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the aerospace division of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, was quoted in state-linked media confirming the number but was vague on the details, reports The Times of London.

Hajizadeh referred to “martyrs” among those who died, an apparent reference to security forces. The official also suggested that many killed were Iranians who did not participate in the protests but did not provide a figure or additional details.

Human rights groups outside Iran have been independently tracking the death toll in the protests that began on Sept. 17, after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died while she was in police custody for allegedly failing to adhere to the country’s strict hijab rules.

The Iranian government has cracked down harshly on demonstrators, detaining as many as 18,000 in connection to the uprisings.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists in Iran has recorded 451 protesters and 60 security forces killed, which is far higher than the general’s number.

Humans Rights Activists also claimed that 58 of those deaths were children – 46 boys and 12 girls under the age of 18 – as of Nov. 20.

Iran’s tensions with President Joe Biden, who publicly expressed support for the citizens, especially the “brave women,” reportedly spilled over into the World Cup, where it and the U.S. are playing in same group.

The Iranian government reportedly threatened the families of the national soccer team with “imprisonment and torture” if the players didn’t “behave” ahead of the match against their match against the U.S. on Tuesday.

The U.S. won the game, 1-0.