After several weeks of unrest, protests appear to be slowing in response to the Iranian government’s violent crackdowns, Reuters reports. The riots, which mark the country’s most extreme unrest in years, resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 people and the arrests of another 22,000 demonstrators, according to estimates by H.R.A.S.A., a U.S.-based Human Rights group. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, acknowledged the deaths of ‘thousands’ for the first time publicly on Saturday, blaming the deaths on Israel and the United States.

The demonstrations began on December 28 to bring attention to soaring prices and economic woes in the Middle Eastern country. Though they eventually turned into calls for the end of Ayatollah Khamenei’s 36-year rule.

Internationally, Iran’s crackdown on protesters was met with widespread condemnation. Denmark’s U.N. Ambassador, Christina Markus Lassen, urged Iranian officials to listen “to the will of its people,” arguing that Tehran has long ignored this call. The U.S. also expressed strong support for protesters, with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz relaying that “[Trump] has made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter” in a U.N. Security Council meeting. 

While the U.S. has made clear its willingness to use force in Iran should the violence continue, Iran’s neighbors have urged the administration not to intervene. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, and Qatar emphasized the diplomatic importance of non-intervention, emphasizing the possibility of re-opening talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program– a key U.S. interest in the region. The same sources also expressed concerns about the effects of U.S. intervention on regional security and stability, according to Reuters. Al Jazeera recently reported that Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker had warned of retaliatory strikes, should the U.S. intervene, the targets of which could include U.S. military bases in neighboring Middle Eastern countries, threatening a wider conflict. Thus far, the U.S. has only moved to place sanctions on 5 Iranian officials whom they say have close ties to the violent crackdown, Reuters reported. 

Despite the positive diplomatic success in avoiding a wider conflict, the violations of basic human rights by the Iranian government cannot be ignored. 3,000+ dead and 22,000 arrested is hardly a ‘victory’ in any sense of the word, but rather represents a staggering loss of life and unfortunate backsliding of human rights. The world, without a doubt, must come together to condemn this and similar atrocities. Global respect for human rights was not always the norm, and without consistent pressure, it can quickly fade away. No country is perfect, but in the context of blatant violations, actions must be taken to protect the most basic levels of human freedom.