Iran’s Islamist regime is facing mounting scrutiny after an unnamed government official admitted that at least 5,000 people were killed during last week’s nationwide crackdown on anti-regime protests. The admission, given to Reuters, comes as independent groups and medical professionals report far higher death tolls, describing the violence as the deadliest episode of internal repression since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
According to the regime official, roughly 500 of those killed were security personnel allegedly targeted by protesters armed with weapons supplied by Israel and foreign groups. The official claimed many civilian deaths were caused not by state forces, but by “terrorists and armed rioters,” echoing long-standing regime narratives used to justify mass violence.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledged Saturday that “thousands” were killed, including some “in an inhuman, savage manner.” However, he placed full blame on the United States and Israel, calling the U.S. president a criminal and accusing Western powers of orchestrating the unrest.
Independent watchdogs sharply dispute the regime’s version of events. The Human Rights Activists News Agency said it has confirmed 3,308 deaths and is reviewing another 4,382 reported fatalities. HRANA stated the current death toll already exceeds any previous unrest since the Islamic Republic was established.
The opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran reported that at least 127 prisoners were executed between January 5 and January 15, including three women. The group released the names of those executed, accusing the regime of using mass executions to intimidate the population and silence dissent.
Even more alarming claims emerged from a network of Iranian doctors who spoke to the Sunday Times. The doctors estimated that at least 16,500 protesters were killed and more than 330,000 injured, many during just two days of intense violence. They said most victims were under the age of 30 and described hospitals overwhelmed with gunshot and shrapnel wounds.
Doctors reported that regime enforcers blocked blood transfusions for injured protesters and arrested patients with eye injuries or pellet wounds, viewing them as proof of participation in demonstrations. Thousands reportedly suffered permanent eye damage from shotgun and pellet fire.
Prof. Amir Parasta, an Iranian-German eye surgeon, said the current crackdown is far more lethal than the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising. He described widespread use of military-grade weapons, with shots deliberately aimed at heads and chests. He called the campaign “genocide under the cover of digital darkness,” noting that the regime has severely restricted internet access.
Witnesses also reported that units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps opened fire indiscriminately on crowds. Additional reports indicate Shiite militia fighters were bused in from Iraq to assist in suppressing the protests, underscoring the regime’s desperation to retain control at any cost.
