A human rights organization based in the United States, “Human Rights Activists News Agency” (HRANA), stated on Wednesday (January 14) that the death toll from the nationwide protests in Iran has risen to at least 2,571 people, marking the largest and most severe internal unrest in Iran in recent years.
According to reports from Reuters, HRANA has confirmed 2,403 protesters have died so far, along with 147 government-related individuals. The deceased also include 12 minors and 9 civilians who did not participate in the protests.
These figures are the result of cross-verification from various medical, judicial, and media sources. HRANA, along with multiple sources, indicated that the numbers of casualties may continue to rise, with the actual situation potentially exceeding the currently published statistics.
Meanwhile, an Iranian official stated on Tuesday that about 2,000 people have died in the nationwide turmoil over the past two weeks. This rare release of death estimates by Iranian authorities did not specify the identities of the deceased, categorizing most of them as “terrorists and thugs receiving foreign guidance,” while accusing the United States and Israel of inciting violence.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Iranian citizens on Tuesday to continue protesting, stating that “help is on the way” and announcing the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials. Trump has also mentioned that in response to Iran’s strong crackdown on protests, the U.S. is evaluating various options, including military actions.
The British government recently announced that, considering the widespread protests and high casualties and arrests in Iran, they will impose “comprehensive and further sanctions” on Iran. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper informed Parliament that the new sanctions will cover key industries such as finance, energy, transportation, and software, and will be implemented swiftly after completing the legislative process.
Cooper also refuted Iran’s attribution of the protests to foreign forces as “lies and propaganda,” emphasizing that the UK will continue to expose such narratives while closely monitoring the developments in Iran to safeguard their own interests.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during a media interview while on a visit to India on Tuesday, stated that if a regime relies on force to maintain control, it has essentially reached its end.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, on her social media platform, announced that the EU will swiftly propose a new round of sanctions targeting individuals responsible for suppressing demonstrations.
The protests began on December 28 last year, triggered by a significant devaluation of the Iranian rial, exacerbated currency inflation, and continually rising prices of essential goods. The public’s dissatisfaction with the economic collapse spread from economic grievances to political aspects, leading to protests across various provinces and cities in Iran, ranging from major urban centers to rural towns, gradually evolving into an open challenge to the theocratic regime.
This crisis is widely seen as the most severe internal political crisis Iran has faced in recent years. The British official statement noted that Iran’s suppression of the protests has been described as the bloodiest and most brutal in at least thirteen years, with the number of deaths and level of violence surpassing previous protest events.