Iran is facing one of its darkest moments in decades, with activists now saying the death toll from the government’s violent response to nationwide anti-government protests has climbed to at least 5,002 people.
Human rights groups warn that this figure may still be far from complete, especially as the country remains largely cut off from the outside world after an unprecedented internet shutdown that has stretched beyond two weeks.
Information Blackout Fuels Fears of a Higher Toll
Getting reliable information out of Iran has become increasingly difficult since authorities shut down internet access on January 8.
Activists say the blackout — described as the most extensive in Iran’s history — has made it nearly impossible to verify deaths, locate detainees, or communicate with families.
As a result, many fear that countless victims may never be officially counted.
Who the Activists Say Has Died
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency released the latest figures, breaking them down in stark detail.
According to the group, 4,716 of the dead were protesters, while 203 were linked to government forces.
The toll also reportedly includes 43 children and 40 civilians who were not involved in demonstrations.
In addition, activists say more than 26,800 people have been arrested as authorities widen their crackdown.
The organisation has a track record of accuracy during previous periods of unrest, relying on a network of contacts inside Iran to verify deaths and detentions.
A Death Toll Not Seen in Decades
If confirmed, the scale of the killings would surpass every other wave of protests Iran has seen in recent decades, drawing comparisons with the upheaval surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The sheer number of casualties has shocked observers and intensified international concern about how far the authorities are willing to go to crush dissent.
Government Figures Tell a Different Story
Iranian officials have offered a much lower death toll.
The government said 3,117 people were killed during the unrest that began on December 28, claiming 2,427 of those deaths were civilians and security personnel, while labeling the remaining victims as “terrorists.”
Critics note that Iran’s leadership has a long history of underreporting — or completely avoiding — casualty figures during periods of unrest.
Media Restrictions and Propaganda Claims
Independent verification has proven nearly impossible.
The Associated Press and other international outlets have been unable to confirm the numbers, largely due to internet restrictions, blocked international phone calls, and tight limits placed on journalists inside the country.
Meanwhile, state television continues to describe protesters as “rioters” allegedly driven by the US and Israel, without presenting evidence to back up those claims.
Death Penalty Threats Add to the Alarm
Human rights concerns have deepened as Iranian officials, including the attorney general, refer to some detainees as “mohareb,” or “enemies of God.”
That charge carries the death penalty and was previously used during the mass executions of 1988, when an estimated 5,000 people were killed.
The language has raised fears that executions could follow the mass arrests.
US–Iran Tensions Escalate at Sea
As the crackdown continues, tensions between Tehran and Washington are also rising.
The US military has moved additional assets toward the Middle East, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, now reported to be operating in the Indian Ocean.
President Donald Trump described the movement as a precaution, saying the US is sending a “massive fleet” toward Iran “just in case.”
Trump Issues Fresh Warnings
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Mr Trump warned that the US is watching Iran closely, particularly over reports of peaceful protesters being killed or the possibility of mass executions.
He also referenced earlier nuclear talks with Tehran before Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran and subsequent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, warning that any future military action would make those strikes “look like peanuts.”
UK Also Signals Concern in the Region
Adding to the sense of mounting pressure, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that 12 Squadron, a joint Eurofighter Typhoon unit with Qatar, has been deployed to the Persian Gulf for defensive purposes amid growing regional tensions.
What Comes Next?
With Iran still largely isolated from the outside world, the true scale of the human cost remains unclear
. As arrests continue, international pressure builds, and military forces reposition across the region, the situation appears far from stabilised.
Whether diplomacy, sanctions, or further confrontation lies ahead now depends on how Tehran responds — both to its own people and to an increasingly uneasy international community.
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