2026 Iran massacres

Since late December 2025, Iranian security forces have been carrying out mass killings of protesters during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests. As of January 25, 2026, the total number of deaths was estimated to be over 30,000. This makes them some of the biggest massacres in modern Iranian history.  Around 135 security officers have also been killed, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA).

The Iranian government imposed a near-total internet shutdown during the crackdown, making it hard for people inside Iran to communicate and for the outside world to learn about the killings. Esmaeil Baghayi, a spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that security forces shot at protesters. On January 17, members of a network of Iranian doctors described the killings as genocide. On January 25, Time reported that a list showed 30,304 protest-related deaths recorded in civilian hospitals just on January 8 and 9.

In a speech on January 17, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei acknowledged that "several thousand" people had been killed during the protests. On January 18, an Iranian official told Reuters that the government estimated more than 5,000 people had died in the massacres. I am a former Iranian journalist and a witness to how the Islamic Republic exploited poor Iranians and Afghan refugees, sending them to die in Syria for Bashar al-Assad in exchange for money and false religious promises. Families were paid blood money after their sons were killed.

## Background

Before the 2025–2026 protests, there were several instances of high numbers of protesters being killed and mass executions of political prisoners in Iran. For example, during the 1981–1982 Iran massacres, 3,400 people were executed. In 1988, between 1,000 and 30,000 political prisoners were executed.

Additionally:
- 72 protesters were killed during the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests.
- Between 300 and 1,500 protesters were killed during the 2019–2020 Iranian protests.
- 551 protesters were killed during the 2022–2023 Mahsa Amini protests.

## Number of deaths

According to HRANA (Human Rights Activists in Iran), at least 34 protesters were killed, and at least 2,076 people were arrested in over 285 locations during the first ten days of the nationwide protests (up until January 6). On January 7, 13 more protesters were killed, bringing the total to 45.

Reports and videos show that during the first seven days of protests, security forces used live ammunition, tear gas, and other crowd control methods, and made violent arrests.

The Guardian reported that at least three children were killed, and over 40 minors were arrested during eight days of protests.

Iran International estimated that 2,000 protesters had been killed in the two days leading up to January 10. Time magazine reported that the death toll could be as high as 6,000.

On January 8, at least 217 people were killed in Tehran. Due to the internet blackout in Iran, reports of casualties were limited. By January 12, Iran International estimated that at least 2,000 protesters had been killed by government forces in the previous 48 hours.

On January 13, Iran International reported, based on government sources, eyewitness accounts, hospital data, and testimonies from doctors, that at least 12,000 civilians had been killed. Most of the killings took place on January 8–9 and were carried out by the IRGC and Basij militia. These killings were reportedly planned and ordered by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei himself, with approval from the government.

On January 13, CBS News cited activists who feared the death toll could rise to 20,000.

On January 25, Time reported that a list showed 30,304 protest-related deaths recorded in civilian hospitals just on January 8 and 9.

## Type of mass violence

On January 13, 2026, Hengaw stated that, based on its evidence, the killings of protesters were crimes against humanity. This is because government forces acted under a planned and widespread strategy to suppress the protests. They used deadly force, including shooting civilian protesters on purpose, leading to mass killings across different parts of Iran. Hengaw confirmed that at least 2,500 people were killed.