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Iran May Have Killed Over 30,000 Protesters in Just Two Days
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As many as 30,000 people may have been killed during the suppression of anti-government protests in Iran on January 8–9, 2026, according to Time magazine.
The report, published on January 25, cites two unnamed senior officials from Iran’s Ministry of Health, who said the death toll overwhelmed the country’s emergency response capacity.
Emergency responders reportedly ran out of body bags and had to use large freight trucks in place of ambulances to transport bodies, Time wrote. These figures were corroborated by Iranian medical staff and first responders, including Dr. Amir Parasta, who compiled a closed internal report on casualties.
He noted that the official number—30,304—does not account for deaths recorded in military hospitals or bodies delivered directly to morgues without registration. “We are approaching reality. But the real numbers are probably much higher,” Dr. Parasta said, as quoted by Time.
The magazine acknowledged that it was unable to independently verify the figures, in part due to a nationwide internet and mobile network blackout during the peak of the unrest.
The Iranian government disputes the figures. On January 23, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that 3,117 people had died during the protests, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel, and 690 individuals whom he labeled “terrorists.”
Human rights organizations have released significantly higher estimates. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) confirmed 5,459 deaths as of January 24, with an additional 17,031 cases still under verification. In total, the organization has recorded over 41,000 detentions and nearly 8,000 serious injuries.
A separate report from Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) placed the confirmed death toll at 5,848, including 77 minors and 209 members of security forces.
The protests began in late December 2025 in response to deteriorating economic conditions, including the sharp decline of the Iranian rial and rising prices for basic goods.
Demonstrations quickly spread to all provinces and evolved into political protests calling for regime change. According to Time, the nights of January 8 and 9 marked the deadliest period.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that US President Donald Trump considered a strike on Iran during this period but was dissuaded by Israeli and Arab officials who viewed the timing as inappropriate.
Trump later claimed he had personally decided not to proceed, citing Iran’s decision to halt several executions. Nonetheless, he confirmed the deployment of a carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln near Iranian waters.
Earlier, during the nationwide protests, Iran reportedly tested Russian-made electronic warfare systems to disrupt Starlink satellite internet. Systems such as “Kalinka,” “Tobol,” and potentially “Krasukha-4” were allegedly used to jam satellite signals, with some sources suggesting direct Russian support or joint development efforts.
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