Human rights activists have already confirmed 5,459 deaths, of which 5,149 were protesters, 60 were children under the age of 18, 208 were government forces and 42 were non-protesters or civilians.
The number of deaths currently under investigation is 17,031, the statement said.
Since the protests, which began before the New Year, the total number of arrests has reached 40,887. Among those detained are at least 325 children and 54 university students. The number of seriously injured people, according to HRANA, is 7,403, and 205 cases of forced confessions broadcast on television were also recorded.
Civil actions covered 195 cities in 31 provinces, the article stated.
The Sunday Times wrote on January 17, citing medical reports, that between 16.5 and 18 thousand people could have died since the protests began. According to doctors and human rights activists, security forces are using military weapons against demonstrators.
Context
Massive anti-government protests began in Iran on December 28, 2025 amid economic problems in the country. Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei called the protesters “rebels” and called for suppression of demonstrations. Clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement officers, which, as Reuters wrote, became the bloodiest in the last three years.
On January 10, the Iranian army announced its readiness to join in the suppression of protests in the country. Iran's Prosecutor General threatened to execute protesters. On the same day, Trump said that the United States was ready to come to the aid of Iran. On January 13, the US President wrote that “Help is on the way.”
On January 15, the media, in particular Agence France-Presse, reported that Trump was persuaded by the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman to abandon the attack on Iran. On January 16, Trump assured that he “convinced himself” to abandon the strike on Iran, and not the Arab countries and Israel.
In mid-January, the WSJ wrote that in Iran there was a sharp Anti-government protests have decreased due to the authorities' brutal treatment of protesters. British politician Bill Rummel said on January 16 that Iranian authorities may have used “toxic chemicals” to quell demonstrations in the country.
