ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday urged citizens to work with Tehran to address ongoing problems, recalling “heartbreaking events” following January’s nationwide protests that left thousands dead.

“We are truly sorry for some of the shortcomings and deficiencies. Some of the incidents that have occurred are truly heartbreaking,” Pezeshkian said during a presser in western Iran’s Lorestan province, which saw one of the harshest crackdowns during January’s nationwide protests.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests since late last year, which have spread to the majority of provinces and increasingly become anti-government in nature, prompting a violent crackdown from Iranian authorities.

“All of these existing problems require time to resolve. And we need the opportunity to address them with your help, with the support of social activists, religious activists, and cultural activists. We must work together to make this happen,” Pezeshkian added. 

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported that Iranian security forces have killed more than 7,000 protesters and injured over 11,000 since demonstrations began in late December.

Monitors have also warned that protesters arrested for their involvement in Iran’s ongoing nationwide protests have been subjected to ‘widespread’ sexual violence while in custody, resulting in severe psychological damage.

Pezeshkian also said that Tehran must take steps to close the gap between the government and young people, adding that “our youth need to believe that we genuinely and wholeheartedly want to serve our people, not that we are pretending or merely putting on a show.”

Government forces intensified their crackdown on protesters as demonstrations continued to expand, despite government claims of a softer approach.

Tehran has warned that it will show no leniency toward protesters it labels “rioters,” portraying them as “foreign agents” and “terrorist elements” working with the West, and labeling the latest protest as a continuation of June’s 12-day war with Israel.