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Death toll rises amid nationwide protests
At least 35 people have died in Iran over the past 10 days as demonstrations against economic hardship escalate, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The unrest, which has spread to 27 of Iran's 31 provinces, marks the most severe wave of protests since the 2022 uprising following Mahsa Amini's death in custody.
Security forces and protesters among the dead
HRANA reported that two of the confirmed fatalities were members of Iran's security forces. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the deaths of two security personnel but have not released an official death toll. BBC Persian has independently verified the identities of 15 victims.
In addition to the fatalities, HRANA stated that over 60 protesters have been injured and 1,200 arrested since the demonstrations began on 28 December. The protests erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar took to the streets to protest another sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial against the US dollar.
Economic crisis fuels unrest
The rial has plummeted to record lows over the past year, while inflation has surged to 40%, exacerbated by international sanctions linked to Iran's nuclear programme. The economic strain, compounded by allegations of mismanagement and corruption, has deepened public frustration.
What began as a localized protest by shopkeepers quickly expanded as university students joined, and demonstrations spread to other cities. Videos obtained by BBC Persian on Tuesday showed security forces firing tear gas at protesters in Tehran's Grand Bazaar, where crowds chanted slogans against Iran's clerical leadership.
Authorities vow crackdown as international condemnation grows
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority, declared that "rioters should be put in their place" and pledged not to "yield to the enemy." Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei echoed this stance on Monday, stating that authorities would address "legitimate concerns" over livelihoods but show no mercy to "rioters."
US President Donald Trump warned on Friday that the US was "locked and loaded and ready to go" if Iranian security forces killed peaceful protesters. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep sadness over the reported casualties and urged restraint to prevent further bloodshed. His spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, emphasized that "all individuals must be allowed to protest peacefully and express their grievances."
Violent clashes and hospital raid spark outrage
Footage from Tuesday's protest in Tehran's Grand Bazaar showed demonstrators chanting "Death to the dictator," a direct reference to Khamenei, before fleeing as riot police fired tear gas. Similar scenes unfolded in the capital's Cheragh Barq area on Monday, where protesters chanted "freedom, freedom, freedom" before security forces intervened.
In the western province of Ilam, President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the interior ministry to investigate the deadly unrest. On Sunday, videos emerged showing security forces storming Imam Khomeini Hospital in the predominantly Kurdish city of Ilam, where wounded protesters were reportedly sheltering. Amnesty International condemned the raid, stating that Revolutionary Guards and police special forces "used shotguns and fired tear gas into the grounds, smashed glass doors to gain access, and beat those inside, including medical workers."
"The Iranian security forces' attack... violates international law and exposes yet again how far the Iranian authorities are willing to go to crush dissent."
Amnesty International
The US State Department's Persian-language account on X described the hospital raid as a "clear crime against humanity."
Regional tensions and calls for accountability
In the central city of Najafabad, parents gathered outside a courthouse on Monday, demanding the release of minors arrested during the crackdown. One protester issued an ultimatum: "Release our children, all under the age of 20, within 24 hours, or we'll join the demonstrations too."
Kurdish human rights group Hengaw reported that six protesters were killed in Malekshahi county on Saturday, including a retired brigadier-general and four individuals at a demonstration outside a government compound. Semi-official Iranian media acknowledged three deaths, including a security force member, during an attempt by "rioters" to enter a security facility.
Hengaw has verified the deaths of at least 25 protesters, including four children, while Norway-based Iran Human Rights reported 27 fatalities, including five children, across eight provinces. The group's director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, warned that the regime's instability could lead to even more violent repression than in past uprisings.
Historical context and fears of escalation
The current protests are the most widespread since the 2022 uprising triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman detained by morality police for allegedly violating hijab rules. That crackdown resulted in over 550 deaths and 20,000 arrests, according to human rights organizations.
As tensions persist, concerns grow over the potential for further violence, with international observers closely monitoring the situation.
