Tehran [Iran], January 12 (HBTV): At least 544 people have been killed and more than 10,681 individuals arrested and transferred to prisons amid protests in Iran that have entered their fifteenth day, according to a human rights group.
Citing the latest data released by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Sunday, demonstrations have erupted at 585 locations across the country, spanning 186 cities in all 31 provinces, highlighting the scale and intensity of the unrest. The protests have been driven by soaring inflation, economic hardship and mounting public anger over governance.
In its report, HRANA, which is registered in the United States as a non-profit organisation, said that over the past 24 hours it had received a fresh wave of data and visual documentation, even as an internet shutdown, in place since the thirteenth day of protests, has severely hampered independent verification and information flow.
According to HRANA’s verified figures up to January 11, 483 protesters have been killed, along with 47 members of military and law enforcement forces and one government-affiliated non-civilian. The dead also include five non-protesting civilian citizens, while eight children under the age of 18 have been recorded among the fatalities, though they are not included in the main breakdown. In addition, 579 other reported fatalities remain under investigation.
‘Based on HRANA’s latest aggregated and verified data to date, protests have taken place at 585 locations nationwide, including 186 cities across all 31 provinces. As of this date, 47 members of military and law enforcement forces have been killed, one government-affiliated non-civilian has been killed and 483 protesters have been killed. Eight children under 18 are recorded among the dead and five people have been killed as non-protesting civilian citizens. Accordingly, the total number of confirmed fatalities has reached 544 so far, while 579 other reports of deaths remain under investigation,’ the group said.
Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in a post on X, said more Iranian security personnel have been killed during the current protests than in any previous protest wave. Citing IRGC-affiliated media, ISW said at least 114 regime security officers from the Law Enforcement Command, Basij and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been killed since protests began on December 28.
ISW noted that Esfahan province recorded the highest number of Law Enforcement Command and IRGC deaths at 30, followed by nine deaths in Ghazvin province. It added that the IRGC has been particularly active in western Iran, including Kermanshah and West Azerbaijan provinces, and warned that the actual number of security force casualties is likely higher than officially reported.
According to ISW, the current wave of protests has already surpassed the 2022–2023 Mahsa Amini movement, during which over 70 regime security personnel were killed, making this the deadliest period of unrest in Iran in recent years.
Amid the protests, US President Donald Trump on Sunday, local time, said the Islamic Republic appeared to be crossing a ‘red line’ set by his administration following reports of killings, prompting Washington to consider what he described as ‘very strong options’. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said those in power in Iran were ruling through violence and that the situation was being closely monitored at the highest levels of the US government.
‘There seem to be some people killed that are not supposed to be killed. These are violent, if you call them leaders, I do not know if they are leaders or if they just rule through violence, but we are looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it. We are looking at some very strong options, and we will make a determination,’ Trump said, adding that Washington may be forced to take action even as Tehran has reached out seeking negotiations. (ANI)