International Desk
Jan 14, 2026: More than 2,000 people have reportedly died during a brutal crackdown on protests in Iran, according to human rights groups. The unrest has drawn global attention, with US President Donald Trump promising Iranians that assistance is “on its way.”
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) confirmed the deaths of 1,850 protesters, 135 government-affiliated individuals, nine civilians, and nine children over the past 17 days, despite an ongoing internet blackout.
An Iranian official cited a death toll of 2,000 but attributed the violence to “terrorists.”
Trump Warns Iranian Authorities:
Trump criticized Iranian authorities, warning they would “pay a big price” for the killings. He also encouraged citizens to continue protesting. Meanwhile, he has considered various military and strategic options and imposed 25% tariffs on any country trading with Iran.
The protests, now reported in 180 cities across all 31 provinces, began as a reaction to the collapse of Iran’s currency and the surging cost of living. They have since grown into broader calls for political reform, representing one of the most significant challenges to Iran’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Escalation and Government Response:
The unrest intensified last Thursday and was met with deadly force by security forces, accompanied by a near-total shutdown of the internet and communication channels.
HRANA stated that at least 2,003 deaths have been confirmed, with another 779 cases under review. “We are horrified, but we believe these numbers may still be conservative,” said Deputy Director Skylar Thompson.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported at least 734 confirmed deaths, noting that these figures were based on incomplete data from fewer than half of Iran’s provinces and less than 10% of hospitals.
Visual Evidence of the Unrest:
Videos circulating online show crowds at Tehran’s Kahrizak Forensic Centre, searching for bodies of relatives. Footage analyzed by the BBC revealed at least 180 shrouded bodies, while another video showed around 50 more.
“My friend went to look for his brother and forgot his own grief,” an activist said. “They piled bodies from every neighborhood; you have to search in your own area. You cannot imagine the level of violence used.”
Hospitals in Tehran are reportedly overwhelmed. Prof. Shahram Kordasti, an Iranian oncologist based in London, said colleagues described the situation as “like a warzone, with shortages of supplies and blood.”
International Reactions:
Trump, writing on Truth Social, urged Iranians to keep protesting and to “take over your institutions.” He canceled meetings with Iranian officials until the killings stop, adding that help was “on its way.”
The US national security team has reportedly been reviewing covert and military options, including missile strikes, cyber operations, and psychological campaigns.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the government is open to diplomacy but prepared for other responses if challenged militarily. He claimed “trained terrorist groups” operating from abroad infiltrated demonstrations and targeted security forces.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei echoed these claims, asserting that foreign enemies had been neutralized.
Calls for Human Rights Protections:
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest what she described as the “brutal killing of protesters.”
UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged Iranian authorities to immediately stop violence against peaceful demonstrators.
He condemned labeling protesters as “terrorists” to justify the use of force and criticized suggestions that the death penalty could be applied through expedited trials.
Iranian judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei warned that participants in the unrest would face “serious and severe” action. More than 16,780 protesters have been detained, and some have already been sentenced to death in fast-track trials.
Local Accounts of the Unrest:
Eyewitnesses in cities such as Rasht described widespread destruction: “Everywhere is burning,” one resident said. Videos verified by BBC Persian show clashes in Arak, Tabriz, Urmia, and Khorramabad, with protesters throwing stones and chanting slogans against the ruling regime and in remembrance of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
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