Iranian authorities say the death toll from the protests is nearing 2,000

Iran’s religious leadership has blamed the United States and Israel for stirring instability, claiming that unidentified individuals they describe as terrorists have taken control of the protests.

An Iranian official said on Tuesday that nearly 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed in protests across Iran. This is the first time authorities have acknowledged such a high death toll in the crackdown on the nationwide unrest that has been ongoing for two weeks.

Speaking to Reuters, the Iranian official said that those they call “terrorists” are responsible for the deaths of both protesters and security forces. The official did not specify who was killed.

The unrest, sparked by deteriorating economic conditions, has been the biggest internal challenge for Iranian authorities in at least three years and comes amid increasing international pressure following Israeli and US attacks last year.

Iran’s clerical rulers, who have been in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, have attempted to adopt a dual approach to the protests. They have acknowledged the legitimacy of protests over economic grievances while simultaneously cracking down on security threats.

They have accused the US and Israel of fomenting the unrest and claim that unidentified individuals, whom they label as terrorists, have hijacked the protests.

A rights group had previously identified hundreds of people killed and said thousands had been arrested.

Restrictions on communications, including internet blackouts in recent days, have hampered the flow of information.

Videos of nighttime clashes between protesters and security forces last week, many of which were verified by Reuters, showed violent confrontations, including gunfire, burning cars, and buildings.