Iran crackdown reported to have killed thousands as rial hits record low

Activists say 6,126 people have been killed since protests began on Dec. 28, while Iran's currency, the rial, has fallen to a record low and inflation has risen.

Activists and officials give differing death tolls after protests that began on Dec. 28. The unrest started after a sharp fall in the value of the rial. Authorities have responded with a crackdown while internet access has been restricted in parts of the country. The rial has reached a record low amid rising inflation, contributing to public economic concern. Key details: - The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported 6,126 deaths since the protests began. - Iran's government said 3,117 people had been killed and described others involved as "terrorists." - The protests were sparked by a sharp fall in the rial; the currency has sunk to a record low and inflation has increased. - More than 41,800 people have been arrested, and periods of internet blackout have limited independent verification. Summary: The differing casualty figures and restricted communications mean the overall scale remains contested. Economic decline in the rial is cited as a central driver of the unrest, and tensions with the United States have risen amid reports that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group has deployed to the region. Undetermined at this time.