International Desk:
Jan 13, 2026: Iranian authorities have for the first time acknowledged a massive death toll from recent nationwide protests, with an official stating that around 2,000 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed during unrest that has gripped the country for more than two weeks.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that what the government describes as “terrorist elements” were responsible for fatalities among both demonstrators and security personnel. No detailed breakdown of civilian and official casualties was provided.
The protests, initially triggered by worsening economic conditions, have evolved into the most serious internal challenge faced by Iran’s leadership in at least three years. The unrest has unfolded amid heightened regional and international tensions following last year’s Israeli and US strikes.
Iran’s clerical leadership, in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has adopted a two-track response—acknowledging public frustration over economic hardship while simultaneously enforcing a sweeping security crackdown. Officials have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of stoking instability, alleging that foreign-backed groups hijacked otherwise legitimate demonstrations.
Human rights organizations, however, have presented significantly lower but still alarming casualty figures. One international rights group reported that at least 648 people have been killed so far, including nine minors, while warning that the real number could be far higher. Thousands are believed to have been injured.
The same group said a nationwide internet shutdown, now lasting several days, has severely hampered independent verification of events and may be intended to conceal the scale of the crackdown. It also estimated that roughly 10,000 people have been arrested since the protests began.
Rights advocates urged the international community to take action, warning that civilian demonstrators are facing lethal force. They stressed that limited digital access has made accurate reporting extremely difficult.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government organized mass rallies across the country in support of the Islamic Republic. Thousands attended the demonstrations, which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described as evidence that the protest movement had been defeated. Authorities maintain that foreign interference was behind the unrest.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran against killing protesters, stating that military action remains an option if violence continues, though US officials insist diplomacy remains the preferred path.
What began as protests over economic grievances has since grown into a broader challenge to Iran’s theocratic system, which has ruled the country since the overthrow of the shah in 1979.
In a statement, Khamenei said the pro-government rallies sent a clear message to Washington, claiming they had derailed plans by “foreign enemies” carried out through internal collaborators.
State television aired footage from Tehran showing crowds waving national flags and participating in prayers for those killed during what authorities label as “riots.”
At Tehran’s Enghelab Square, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told supporters that Iran was facing a “four-front war,” citing economic pressure, psychological warfare, military threats from the United States and Israel, and what he called a battle against terrorism inside the country.
Standing before banners bearing anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, Ghalibaf warned that any military attack on Iran would be met with a severe response, vowing that the country’s armed forces would retaliate decisively.
President Trump, however, claimed that Iran’s leadership had privately reached out to explore negotiations, even as public statements from Tehran remain defiant.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is prepared for one, adding that the country remains open to what he described as “fair and respectful” negotiations. Officials confirmed that indirect communication channels remain open despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran’s last monarch, accused the current government of attempting to mislead the international community by signaling openness to talks while continuing repression at home.
State media has sought to project a return to normalcy, airing images of regular traffic flow and calm streets in the capital. Tehran’s governor said the number of protests was declining.
Authorities have reported that dozens of security personnel were killed during the unrest, with their funerals turning into large pro-government gatherings. The government has declared three days of national mourning for those deaths.
The European Union has expressed solidarity with Iranian protesters and said it is considering additional sanctions over the crackdown. The European Parliament has also barred Iranian diplomats from its premises.
Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned several European diplomats, demanding the withdrawal of statements supporting protesters. Nevertheless, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he described as indiscriminate state violence against citizens demanding basic rights.
France has withdrawn non-essential embassy staff from Iran, while Russia, a key ally of Tehran, criticized what it called foreign attempts to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs.
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