Mortuary videos show how deadly Iran crackdown has become

Disturbing videos from a mortuary near Tehran have exposed the brutal scale of Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests, with scores of bodies indicating a deadly response that has drawn international condemnation and raised fears of further escalation. The protests, which began in late December 2025, were initially sparked by economic hardships including a plummeting currency and soaring inflation. However, they quickly evolved into broader calls for political change, with demonstrators in major cities chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and expressing support for exiled opposition figures. In response, Iranian authorities have implemented a harsh crackdown, using live ammunition, water cannon, and other weapons against protesters. Human rights groups report that hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested since the unrest began, with casualties including civilians from various backgrounds. The mortuary videos, verified by BBC Verify and corroborated by witnesses in reports from Le Monde, show rows of body bags and shrouded corpses at the Kahrizak forensic center south of Tehran. One video displays a monitor listing bodies, with captions suggesting a tally in the hundreds, providing chilling evidence of the violence. An internet blackout imposed by the government has severely restricted information flow, but some Iranians have used tools like VPNs and SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to share footage and accounts. This has allowed glimpses of the crackdown, though the full extent remains difficult to verify independently. Internationally, the situation has prompted strong reactions, particularly from the United States. President Donald Trump has threatened ‘very strong options,’ including potential military action, if security forces continue to kill protesters. Iran has warned it is prepared for war but also open to negotiations. According to the Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency, protests have occurred in all 31 provinces, with over 10,000 arrests and hundreds confirmed dead. The judiciary has vowed harsh punishments for ‘rioters,’ while the government declares days of mourning for what it calls martyrs in a battle against foreign enemies. The emergence of these videos has heightened concerns about human rights abuses and the stability of the region. Analysts suggest that the crackdown could intensify domestic unrest or lead to external intervention, depending on how key players like the US and Iran navigate the crisis. As the protests persist, the world watches closely, with calls for transparency and restraint. The mortuary footage serves as a grim reminder of the human cost, underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the deepening conflict in Iran.