European Commission President: The Number of Deaths in Iran is 'Horrific'

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in a message posted on the social media platform X, expressed support for the freedom-seeking protesters in Iran, condemned their 'horrific' repression by the Islamic Republic, and announced that the European Union is considering the situation and will quickly impose more sanctions on regime officials. In her message published on Tuesday, January 13, she stated: 'The increasing number of deaths in Iran is horrific. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and the continued restrictions on freedom.' She emphasized that the European Union has already sanctioned the entirety of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under its human rights sanctions and mentioned that in collaboration with Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, she announced a proposal to impose 'more sanctions against the officials responsible for the repression' as soon as possible. The President of the European Commission also stressed support for the Iranian people who have 'bravely protested for their freedom.' The exact number of casualties from the nationwide uprising in Iran is still unclear, but investigations and reports suggest that the number of victims is likely much higher than the figures confirmed by human rights groups; however, despite the severe violence of the government, protesters continue to demonstrate in the streets of various cities and fight for freedom. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly warned about the massacre of protesters against the Islamic Republic and its repressive apparatus. He has stated clearly and decisively that if the Iranian government begins to kill protesters, the United States will practically assist the people and target the Islamic Republic. He emphasized: 'We will hit them very hard, exactly where it hurts the most. This does not mean deploying ground troops, but it will be a very heavy blow.' Despite this unprecedented repression, posts shared on social media indicate that the widespread uprising of the Iranian people against the Islamic Republic continues despite the killings, arrests, and communication blackouts. This shows that the protests have not subsided and large sections of society continue to stand against the government. Observers believe that what is happening in Iran today is one of the greatest crimes in contemporary history and the most serious challenge to the survival of the Islamic Republic in over four decades.