Human rights organizations have counted more than ten thousand dead in Iran

On February 1, the official authorities of Iran confirmed the death of 2,986 people during recent protests in the country and published their names.

Previously, the Iranian government claimed that more than three thousand people had died as a result of the unrest. Human rights organizations assert that the actual number of deceased protesters significantly exceeds the figures officially stated by the authorities.

The human rights organization HRANA reported that by the end of the thirty-sixth day since the protests began, the total number of confirmed deaths had reached 6,842. According to the organization, a total of 11,280 cases are under review.

According to human rights organizations, due to internet outages, pressure on the families of the deceased, and the lack of opportunities for independent media to operate in the areas where protests are taking place, establishing the exact number of fatalities is nearly impossible. Several Western media outlets, citing informed sources, report that the actual number of deaths may far exceed the official figures announced by the Iranian authorities.

At the same time, Iranian authorities claim that security forces are not involved in the deaths of the protesters. They state that the protesters were killed by “terrorist” groups.

Human rights organizations, pointing to video footage circulated on social media, claim that security personnel and armed individuals in civilian clothing opened fire on the protesters.

Mass protests in Iran began in late December 2025 and initially had a predominantly socio-economic character, but later evolved into a large-scale anti-government movement. According to international media, the authorities reacted harshly, seeking to quickly and violently suppress the protests. This has caused serious concern and a sharp reaction from the international community.