Last Updated: January 25, 2026
Status: Ongoing situation with severe information blackout
As of early 2026, Iran is experiencing widespread protests and internal upheaval—referred to by some as an uprising or revolution—that began in late December 2025 following a severe economic crisis and a sharp decline in the value of the rial. The crackdown by Iranian authorities has resulted in significant casualties and mass detentions.
| Source | Estimate | Date |
|---|---|---|
| High-end estimates (various) | 18,041 – 43,000 | Late January 2026 |
| NewsNation sources | ~30,000 | January 2026 |
| Network of Iranian doctors | 16,500 – 18,000 | January 17, 2026 |
| The Sunday Times | 16,500 – 18,000 killed | January 17, 2026 |
| HRANA (Verified) | 5,002 total deaths | January 23, 2026 |
| HRANA (Breakdown) | 4,714 adults, 42 minors, 207 security, 39 non-participants | January 22, 2026 |
| HRANA (Under investigation) | 9,798 deaths | January 22, 2026 |
| Official Iranian Government | 3,117 (incl. 2,427 "innocent people and guardians of order") | January 2026 |
- Over 330,000 people injured according to multiple reports
| Source | Number Detained | Date |
|---|---|---|
| HRANA | 24,669+ | January 18, 2026 |
| PMOI/MEK | 50,000+ | Dec 28, 2025 – Jan 14, 2026 |
- Cities Affected: 180+ cities across all 31 provinces
- Major Demonstrations: Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz
- International Protests: 168 protests across 30 countries in 73 cities
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Rial Exchange Rate | Record low of 1.4 million to $1 USD |
| Annual Inflation | Over 52% |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Late December 2025 | Economic protests begin |
| December 30, 2025 | Massacres begin |
| Late Dec – Early Jan | Rapid escalation to nationwide uprising |
| January 8, 2026 | Near-total internet blackout implemented |
| January 17-19, 2026 | Peak period of violence and massacres |
| January 24, 2026 | Ongoing crackdown continues |
- Ali Khamenei - Supreme Leader; allegedly ordered use of live fire
- Ali Larijani - Described as "mastermind" of the response
- Mohseni Ejei - Head of Judiciary; stated "no leniency" for protesters
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Basij
- Plainclothes agents
- Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)
- Hezbollah
- Liwa Zainabiyoun
- Liwa Fatemiyoun
- Live fire orders - Security forces ordered to "shoot to kill"
- Heavy weapons - DShK heavy machine guns used against crowds
- Mutilation tactics - Intentional targeting of eyes, heads, and genitals
- Chemical weapons - Reports of use beginning January 17, 2026
- Security forces assaulted hospitals (Imam Khomeini, Sina Hospitals) to arrest or kill injured protesters
- Widespread torture and sexual violence against detainees
- "Suspicious injections" administered to detainees
- Extrajudicial executions
- Families charged for bullets used to kill their relatives
- Pressured to falsely claim victims were "Basij members"
- 2026 Fardis Massacre
- 2026 Malekshahi Massacre
- 2026 Rasht Massacre
- Near-total internet blackout since January 8, 2026
- Designed to hide crackdown from outside world
- Protesters labeled as "rioters" and "moharebeh" (waging war against God)
- Judiciary announced "no leniency"
Case Study: Amirhesam Khodayarifard
- 21-year-old protester shot by security forces in Kuhdasht
- Government falsely claimed he was a Basij member killed by "rioters"
- Family publicly refuted the government's manipulated narrative
The protests have evolved from economic grievances to demanding:
- Downfall of the Islamic Republic
- Support for alternative systems, including potential return to monarchical model
- Discussions about political transition concerning Supreme Leader Khamenei
- United States: President Trump threatened intervention if killings continued (did not ultimately intervene)
- Israel: Increased war readiness amid instability
- Diaspora: 168 solidarity protests across 30 countries
- Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
- Iranian government official statements
- Wikipedia: 2026 Iran massacres
- The Sunday Times
- NewsNation
- Brookings Institution
- UK Parliament
- Atlantic Council
- Iran International
- Britannica
- The National News
Caution
Due to the severe information blackout and the ongoing nature of the situation, these numbers are subject to change and independent verification is extremely difficult.
Warning
The Iranian government has implemented a near-total internet blackout since January 8, 2026, making real-time information gathering challenging.
This document serves as a research reference for the IranRevolution project.