Tehran, January 27, 2026 – The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on Monday that the death toll from the ongoing nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to 6,126, marking one of the deadliest periods of civil unrest in the country's modern history. The figure, compiled from verified reports by activists, medical sources, and eyewitness accounts inside Iran, reflects the scale of the violent crackdown by security forces amid demonstrations that began over economic hardship and have evolved into widespread calls for political change.
According to HRANA's latest update, a total of 41,880 individuals have been arrested as of the 30th day of the protests, with at least 11,009 people sustaining severe injuries, many from live ammunition, pellet guns, and beatings. The agency emphasized that these numbers are conservative, as nationwide internet blackouts and restrictions on communication have hindered full verification, particularly in remote provinces.
The protests erupted on December 28, 2025, initially centered in Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar, where merchants and shopkeepers shuttered their businesses in outrage over the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and skyrocketing inflation. The rial had plunged to a record low of around 1.45 million to the US dollar in late December, before fluctuating amid government interventions that failed to stabilize it. Inflation reached approximately 42-48% annually, with food prices surging more than 70% year-on-year, rendering basic goods unaffordable for millions of households.
What started as economic grievances quickly spread to dozens of cities across all 31 provinces, including Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Kermanshah. Demonstrators, initially drawn from the commercial middle class—bazaaris, traders, and small business owners—were soon joined by students, workers, and ordinary citizens. Slogans evolved from demands for economic relief to outright rejection of the Islamic Republic's clerical leadership, with chants calling for freedom, justice, and an end to corruption and mismanagement.
The economic crisis fueling the unrest has deep roots. Iran's rial has lost massive value throughout 2025, exacerbated by renewed international sanctions following the reimposition of UN "snapback" measures over the nuclear program, the lingering effects of a 12-day war with Israel in June 2025, and declining oil revenues. The conflict damaged infrastructure and further isolated Iran economically, while domestic policies—including subsidized exchange rates that benefited regime-connected elites—created distortions and fueled black-market speculation. Power outages, water shortages, and supply chain disruptions compounded public frustration, turning everyday hardships into flashpoints for dissent.
Iranian authorities have responded with overwhelming force, deploying riot police, Basij paramilitaries, and Revolutionary Guard units. Security forces have used live fire, tear gas, and mass arrests to disperse crowds, with reports of indiscriminate shootings, attacks on hospitals to detain the wounded, and blockades preventing emergency services from reaching affected areas. Officials have accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the unrest through "armed rioters" and foreign-backed elements, framing the demonstrations as threats to national security rather than legitimate expressions of discontent.
In a televised address, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei condemned the protesters as "rioters and terrorists" affiliated with external enemies, acknowledging that "thousands" had been killed while blaming US President Donald Trump for inciting violence. Iranian state media has released footage purporting to show protesters attacking security personnel, though independent verification remains limited due to the communications blackout imposed since early January.
The international response has been marked by heightened tension. US President Donald Trump repeatedly warned Tehran against killing protesters, threatening to "hit hard" and stating that the US was "locked and loaded" to intervene if massacres continued. In recent days, Trump commended Iranian leadership for reportedly canceling hundreds of scheduled executions—over 800 in one instance—claiming assurances from "very important sources" that killings had stopped and no further hangings were planned. He described this as a factor in de-escalating potential US military action, though he cautioned that the situation remained under close watch.
Trump's statements came amid reports of mass trials under charges like "moharebeh" (waging war against God), which carries the death penalty. Rights groups expressed skepticism about the claimed cancellations, noting ongoing executions and the difficulty of confirming such shifts amid repression.
HRANA and other organizations, including Iran Human Rights and the Center for Human Rights in Iran, have documented patterns amounting to crimes against humanity, including systematic lethal force and arbitrary detentions. The protests represent the most significant challenge to the regime since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, surpassing even the 2022 Mahsa Amini uprising in geographic scope and intensity, though earlier waves had different triggers.
As the unrest enters its fifth week, sporadic demonstrations continue despite heavy security deployments in major cities. Residents report a tense calm in Tehran and other hubs, with many fearing further escalation. Economic analysts warn that prolonged instability could deepen the crisis, with the rial remaining volatile and inflation unchecked. The government's attempts at relief—such as food coupons and promises of subsidies—have done little to restore confidence.
The broader implications for Iran's future remain uncertain. The regime's weakened position—following losses among regional proxies, economic isolation, and internal divisions—has emboldened opposition figures like Reza Pahlavi, who has called for sustained international pressure to support regime change. Yet, the clerical leadership shows no signs of yielding, vowing to crush what it calls foreign-orchestrated chaos.
HRANA urged global attention to the humanitarian crisis, calling for independent investigations into the killings and arrests. As communications remain restricted, the true scale of casualties may take months or years to emerge fully. For now, Iran's streets reflect a nation at a crossroads, where economic despair has ignited demands that challenge the very foundations of the Islamic Republic.
