Iran protest death toll rises to 3,428

The death toll from ongoing anti-government protests in Iran has risen to at least 3,428, according to a report released on Wednesday by Norway-based human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR).

The organisation warned that hundreds of detained protesters now face a “serious risk” of execution amid an escalating crackdown by Iranian authorities.

The unrest, which began in Tehran on December 28, has spread to 190 cities across all 31 provinces. Widespread internet shutdowns have made it difficult to verify the true scale of casualties, leading rights groups to caution that the actual death toll could be significantly higher.

According to IHR, at least 3,379 protesters were killed between January 8 and 12 alone. Citing internal sources from Iran’s health ministry, the group said a large proportion of the victims were under 30 years old, including at least 15 minors.

Some international media outlets and intelligence agencies have claimed that the real death toll could be as high as 20,000. However, prolonged internet disruptions have made independent verification nearly impossible.

Eyewitnesses told rights groups that Iranian security forces have used machine guns against protesters and fired at close range, including at those already wounded. A witness in Rasht said security forces opened fire on a group of young protesters even after they had raised their hands to surrender.

In Karaj, there have been allegations that members of the security forces took selfies with victims’ bodies. In Iran’s Kurdish-majority regions, rights groups reported the imposition of undeclared martial law, with security forces conducting door-to-door raids and mass arrests.

IHR Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam compared the crackdown to atrocities committed by Iranian authorities in the 1980s to maintain power, urging the international community to act immediately to prevent further loss of life.

Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that since January 8, around 99 percent of Iran’s internet services have been blocked, isolating the country from global communications and making independent reporting difficult.

Human rights organisations estimate that at least 10,000 people have been arrested since the protests began.