Iranian state television reported on Thursday that a member of the country’s security forces was killed during protests that erupted last week, citing a regional official.

“A 21-year-old member of the Basij from the city of Kouhdasht was killed last night (Wednesday) by rioters while defending public order,” the broadcaster said, quoting Said Pourali, the deputy governor of Lorestan Province.

The death marks the first officially confirmed fatality since the protests began on Sunday. The demonstrations initially started peacefully in the capital, Tehran.

State media have previously described demonstrators as “rioters” during past protest movements.

Pourali said that “during the demonstrations in Kouhdasht, 13 police officers and Basij members were injured by stone throwing.”

Iran acknowledges protests, pledges reforms amid economic crisis 

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday that authorities are taking citizens’ protests seriously, acknowledging persistent living difficulties and working to resolve the economic crisis as quickly as possible.

Speaking at her weekly press conference, Mohajerani said the demands of the Iranian people are clear and legitimate, stressing that the government is listening carefully. She added that authorities would not allow what she described as hostile actors to exploit justified public grievances.

Separately, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, called for a responsible approach to public protests and livelihood-related demands, urging the government to accelerate the implementation of its duties toward the country and to support citizens in addressing their economic hardships.

Public demands morphed into unrest

Ghalibaf said attempts had been made to turn public demands into unrest, but argued that the Iranian people had demonstrated awareness, vigilance, and a commitment to national security. He added that citizens recognize hostile agendas and prevent them through public awareness.

He also emphasized the need for urgent economic reforms to protect citizens’ purchasing power and safeguard the authority of the Central Bank of Iran.

The officials’ remarks followed demonstrations in several Iranian cities over recent days, sparked by worsening economic conditions, rising living costs, and a sharp increase in the exchange rate of the US dollar, mainly due to draconian US sanctions.  Amid the protests, Mohammad Reza Farzin resigned as head of the central bank on Monday, and a replacement was appointed.

Trump-Iran policy sparks renewed regional tensions

Following his return to office in January, Trump reinstated sweeping sanctions on Iran, signaling a return to maximum pressure. The White House has also tightened restrictions on financial transactions and international trade with Iran, policies Pezeshkian argues are destabilizing both the economy and public morale.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Saturday that Iran is effectively at war with the United States, "Israel", and European countries, as regional tensions continue to escalate amid deepening Iran-US tensions.

“In my opinion, we are in a full-fledged war with America, "Israel", and Europe; they do not want our country to stand on its feet,” Pezeshkian said in an interview published on the website of Iran's leader, Sayyed Ali Khamenei.

The Iranian president added that "this war is worse than Iraq’s war against us; if one understands it well, this war is far more complex and difficult than that war." His remarks come just months after US President Donald Trump ordered military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in June, escalating what became known as the 12 Day War between Iran and "Israel".