Iran’s nationwide protests have become the deadliest in decades, with more than 3,000 people killed, rights groups say, as authorities’ violent crackdown appears to have largely quelled mass demonstrations.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that it had verified 3,090 deaths, including at least 2,885 protesters, during nearly three weeks of unrest that began on December 28.
The protests — sparked by economic hardship and swelling into widespread calls to end Iran’s clerical rule — saw some of the fiercest confrontations between security forces and demonstrators since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Residents and rights monitors say Iran’s security forces used lethal force, including live ammunition, to disperse crowds in major cities.
The government imposed a near-total internet and communications blackout for over a week, severely limiting independent reporting and verification of events.
In recent days authorities have reported a slight return of internet access, though connectivity remains restricted and unreliable.
Several residents told Reuters that Tehran and other cities were relatively calm for several days, with few signs of large protests, and drones were seen flying over quiet streets. State media reported ongoing arrests of individuals linked to “riots and terrorism.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and state officials have repeatedly blamed foreign influence — particularly from the United States and Israel — for inciting unrest. Khamenei publicly accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of criminal responsibility for the unrest and casualties, a charge echoed across state media narratives.
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The scale of the bloodshed has drawn widespread international concern. Rights organizations, foreign governments, and diaspora groups have condemned the crackdown and urged Iran to respect civil liberties and human rights.
Inside Iran, the government has dismissed outside figures and media reports as exaggerated or foreign-driven propaganda. Official state channels have characterized the unrest as instigated by “armed rioters” and external enemies seeking to destabilize the country.
State media have reported thousands of arrests linked to the protests, including alleged ringleaders and individuals accused of organizing unrest from abroad. Hard-line judicial authorities have signaled that some detainees could face severe penalties, including death sentences, under Iranian legal definitions of “mohareb” — those waging war against God.
Despite the easing of street demonstrations, tensions remain acute. Iran’s leaders insist they have restored order, but rights groups warn that sporadic unrest could re-emerge as economic pressures persist and discontent with political repression grows.
Independent verification of casualty figures and detailed on-the-ground accounts remains challenging due to state control of information and ongoing communications restrictions inside Iran.