In a devastating escalation of violence, Iran’s security forces have killed at least 6,159 people during nationwide protests that began in late December 2025, according to human rights activists. Young Iranians, speaking to the BBC despite a near-total internet blackout, have shared harrowing accounts of friends and relatives being shot dead in the streets, highlighting the brutal crackdown’s personal toll.
The protests erupted on December 28, 2025, initially sparked by worsening economic conditions and the plummeting value of the Iranian rial. They quickly spread across the country, evolving into one of the deadliest periods of anti-government unrest in the history of the Islamic Republic. By early January 2026, demonstrations had intensified, with authorities responding with lethal force to crush the dissent, leading to widespread casualties.
Personal testimonies from protesters like Parisa, a 29-year-old from Tehran, reveal the scale of the violence. Parisa stated that she knew at least 13 people who had been killed, including a 26-year-old woman struck by “a hail of bullets” during protests on January 8 and 9. Mehdi, another Tehran resident, described witnessing multiple killings at close range, such as a young man shot in the face with a shotgun by security forces on motorcycles. These accounts underscore the indiscriminate nature of the crackdown.
Human rights groups have been working to verify the death toll amid the communications blackout. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) has confirmed 6,159 deaths, including 5,804 protesters, 92 children, and 214 government-affiliated forces. Other organizations, like Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), warn that the final toll could exceed 25,000. In contrast, Iranian authorities have claimed around 3,100 deaths, labeling many as security personnel or bystanders attacked by “rioters,” a discrepancy that activists say obscures the true extent of the violence.
The crackdown involved severe tactics, including the use of live ammunition, pellet guns, and tear gas. Protesters reported that security forces targeted faces and eyes with pellets, leading to numerous eye injuries. Hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties, and there were instances of families being extorted or pressured to classify deceased relatives as security forces to retrieve bodies. Videos verified by the BBC show security forces firing live rounds at crowds, confirming the use of excessive force.
An internet shutdown imposed by the authorities compounded the crisis, cutting off communication and making it difficult to report or verify events. Protesters like Sahar described the trauma of being isolated, with no news from loved ones. This digital blackout, one of the most comprehensive in Iran’s history, has hindered aid efforts and allowed misinformation to spread, while also preventing the world from fully grasping the situation on the ground.
Economically, the protests are set against a backdrop of severe hardship, with the rial hitting a record low of 1.5 million to $1, further squeezing citizens. International sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program continue to strain the economy, and the government’s response has included offering small subsidies, which many find insufficient. The economic discontent has fueled the protests, with participants expressing desperation over having “nothing left to lose.”
Internationally, the crackdown has drawn condemnation and threats of action. U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated threats to strike Iran over the killings, leading to the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier group to the region. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen have signaled willingness to retaliate if the U.S. attacks, raising fears of a broader conflict. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing protests and a heavy security presence, leaving many Iranians in fear and uncertainty about the future.
