The dying toll from a crackdown on protests in Iran jumps to over 2,500, activists say

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The dying toll from nationwide protests in Iran has surpassed 2,500, activists mentioned, as Iranians made telephone calls overseas for the primary time in days Tuesday after authorities severed communications throughout a crackdown on demonstrators.

The variety of lifeless climbed to no less than 2,571 early Wednesday, as reported by the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists Information Company. That determine dwarfs the dying toll from some other spherical of protest or unrest in Iran in many years and remembers the chaos surrounding the nation’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian state tv provided the primary official acknowledgment of the deaths, quoting an official saying the nation had “a lot of martyrs.”

The demonstrations started in late December in anger over Iran’s ailing economic system and shortly focused the theocracy, notably 86-year-old Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pictures obtained Tuesday by The Related Press from demonstrations in Tehran confirmed graffiti and chants calling for Khamenei’s dying — one thing that would carry a dying sentence.

Because the reported toll grew Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his Reality Social platform: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!”

He added: “I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”

Nonetheless, hours later, Trump informed reporters that his administration was awaiting an correct report on the variety of protesters that had been killed earlier than appearing “accordingly.”

Trump mentioned in regards to the Iranian safety forces: “It would seem to me that they have been badly misbehaving, but that is not confirmed.”

Iranian officers as soon as once more warned Trump towards taking motion, with Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, responding to U.S. posturing by writing: “We declare the names of the main killers of the people of Iran: 1- Trump 2-” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On this picture obtained by The Related Press, a placard is positioned on bricks that reads in Farsi, “Long live the Shah,” referring to the Pahlavi dynasty that was toppled within the 1979 Islamic Revolution, throughout an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.

AP/UGC

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AP/UGC

Dying toll spikes

The activist group mentioned 2,403 of the lifeless had been protesters and 147 had been government-affiliated. Twelve kids had been killed, together with 9 civilians it mentioned weren’t collaborating in protests. Greater than 18,100 folks have been detained, the group mentioned.

Gauging the demonstrations from overseas has grown harder, and the AP has been unable to independently assess the toll.

Skylar Thompson with the Human Rights Activists Information Company informed AP the brand new toll was surprising, notably because it reached 4 instances the dying toll of the monthslong 2022 Mahsa Amini protests in simply two weeks.

She warned that the toll would nonetheless rise: “We’re horrified, but we still think the number is conservative.”

Talking by telephone for the primary time since their calls had been lower off from the surface world, Iranian witnesses described a heavy safety presence in central Tehran, burned-out authorities buildings, smashed ATMs and few passersby. In the meantime, folks had been involved about what comes subsequent, together with the potential of a U.S. assault.

“My customers talk about Trump’s reaction while wondering if he plans a military strike against the Islamic Republic,” mentioned shopkeeper Mahmoud, who gave solely his first title out of concern for his security. “I don’t expect Trump or any other foreign country cares about the interests of Iranians.”

Reza, a taxi driver who additionally gave simply his first title, mentioned protests are on many individuals’s minds. “People — particularly young ones — are hopeless, but they talk about continuing the protests,” he mentioned.

Iranians attain out, however world cannot attain in

A number of folks in Tehran had been capable of name the AP on Tuesday and communicate to a journalist. The AP bureau in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was unable to name these numbers again. Witnesses mentioned textual content messaging was nonetheless down, and web customers in Iran might hook up with government-approved web sites domestically however nothing overseas.

The witnesses, who spoke on situation of anonymity for concern of reprisal, mentioned police stood at main intersections and safety officers in plainclothes had been seen in public areas. Anti-riot cops wore helmets and physique armor whereas carrying batons, shields, shotguns and tear gasoline launchers, they mentioned.

A number of banks and authorities workplaces had been burned through the unrest, the witnesses mentioned. Retailers had been open Tuesday, although there was little foot visitors within the capital.

On the streets, folks additionally may very well be seen difficult plainclothes safety officers, who had been stopping passersby at random.

State tv additionally learn a press release about mortuary and morgue providers being free — a sign that some doubtless charged excessive charges for the discharge of our bodies through the crackdown.

Safety service personnel additionally apparently had been trying to find Starlink satellite tv for pc web terminals, as folks in northern Tehran reported authorities raiding house buildings with satellite tv for pc dishes. Whereas satellite tv for pc tv dishes are unlawful, many within the capital have them in properties, and officers broadly had given up on implementing the regulation in recent times.

Activists mentioned Wednesday that Starlink was providing free service in Iran.

“We can confirm that the free subscription for Starlink terminals is fully functional,” Mehdi Yahyanejad, a Los Angeles-based activist who has helped get the models into Iran, informed The Related Press in a press release. “We tested it using a newly activated Starlink terminal inside Iran.”

Starlink itself didn’t instantly acknowledge the choice.