Iran Protest Crackdown: Over 4,000 Killed, 26,000 Detained, Reports Human Rights Activists News Agency

Alarming Figures Emerge from Iran Crackdown

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a U.S.-based organization, has reported a staggering death toll of over 4,000 people and more than 26,000 detentions in Iran's ongoing nationwide protest crackdown. The latest figures, released on January 20, 2026, indicate that 4,029 people have been killed and over 26,000 individuals detained. HRANA, known for its network of activists within Iran, states that most of the deceased were demonstrators, including children, though independent verification of these numbers remains challenging due to restrictions on information flow.

Context of Widespread Unrest

The current wave of protests, which intensified in late December 2025 over Iran's ailing economy, has been met with a brutal response from authorities. These demonstrations follow earlier significant unrest, notably the protests sparked in September 2022 by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in the custody of Iran's morality police after being detained for alleged improper hijab. The current crackdown has been described by human rights groups as a 'nationwide massacre' of protesters.

Brutal Crackdown and Government Response

Iranian security forces have reportedly employed excessive and lethal force, including the use of live ammunition, against protesters. Amnesty International has analyzed videos and eyewitness accounts indicating a coordinated escalation in the unlawful use of lethal force since early January. Furthermore, authorities have imposed extensive internet shutdowns, hindering communication within the country and limiting the flow of information to the outside world. Detainees have reportedly been subjected to ill-treatment, including torture, and there are fears of executions for some of those arrested.

In response to the international outcry, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged that 'several thousand' people had been killed during the protests. However, he attributed the deaths to the protesters themselves and blamed external forces, particularly the United States and Israel, for fomenting the unrest. Official Iranian government estimates have placed the total death toll at over 5,000.

International Condemnation and Calls for Accountability

The severe crackdown has drawn widespread international condemnation. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has strongly criticized Iran's use of 'widespread, excessive and lethal force' and called for an end to impunity. In a notable diplomatic repercussion, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had his invitations to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Munich Security Conference withdrawn due to the killings. International bodies, including the United Nations, have urged Iran to uphold human rights, exercise restraint, and restore internet access.