Deaths in Iran's crackdown on protests reach more than 7,000, activists say

Activists say the death toll from a crackdown over Iran’s nationwide protests has reached at least 7,002 with many more people still feared dead. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency offered the latest figures Thursday. It has been accurate in counting deaths during previous rounds of unrest in Iran and relies on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. Iran’s government offered its only death toll on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. Iran’s theocracy in the past has undercounted or not reported fatalities from past unrest. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll, given authorities have disrupted internet access and international calls in Iran.