At least 3,117 people killed during Iran protests, state media reports

A statement by the Martyrs Foundation noted that 2,427 of those killed in the demonstrations were civilians and security forces.Published On 21 Jan 2026Iranian state television has released the first official death toll from the recent antigovernment protests that engulfed the country, reporting that 3,117 people were killed during the crackdown.In a statement carried by Press TV on Wednesday, Iran’s Martyrs Foundation said that 2,427 of those killed in the demonstrations were civilians and security forces.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2US-Iran tensions: Trump has no path to an easy ‘win’ despite Tehran’s woeslist 2 of 2Iran’s Khamenei says US, Israel links behind ‘thousands killed’ in protestsend of listThe US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has said 4,519 were killed during the wave of demonstrations, including 4,251 protesters, 197 security personnel, 35 people aged under 18 and 38 bystanders who it says were neither protesters nor security personnel.HRANA also said 9,049 additional deaths were under review.The demonstrations, which began in late December with shopkeepers protesting against the sliding value of the currency and the cost of living, escalated into a widespread antigovernment movement.This photograph, taken during a tour for foreign media, shows media representatives visiting the Beheshti Mosque that was damaged during recent public protests, in Tehran [AFP]Iranian authorities condemned the protests as a “terrorist” incident and claimed that the violent “riots” were fuelled by the US.The government crackdown was widely condemned, with US President Donald Trump threatening to intervene in support of the protesters.Some rights groups have said that protesters were killed by direct fire from the security forces.In a report, Amnesty International said it had documented Iranian security forces positioned on streets and rooftops, firing rifles and shotguns loaded with metal pellets, often aimed at unarmed individuals’ heads and torsos.US-Iran tensionsOn Tuesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal that Tehran would not hold back if attacked, but called for “respect” for Iran.