India, Jan. 24 -- An aide of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, made a rare acknowledgment from India that people had been killed in the widespread protests in Iran but rejected claims of large-scale state violence, calling reported figures "fake" and driven by foreign interests.

Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei, said he hoped the situation in Iran and the wider region would improve, while blaming sanctions for the country's economic distress. Follow latest news from Iran here

"Actually we hope that the situation will be good. We are looking for peace, we are looking for the security, but some other people doesn't want that one because this crisis and the problem which created...