Iran: More than 4,000 people have reportedly lost their lives during Iran’s ongoing suppression of nationwide protests, according to figures released on Tuesday by a human rights monitoring organisation based in the United States.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it has documented at least 4,029 deaths since the demonstrations began, along with the detention of over 26,000 individuals. The organisation stated that its data has been compiled through an extensive network of activists and verified sources operating inside the country.
HRANA’s breakdown of the fatalities includes 3,786 demonstrators, 180 members of Iran’s security forces, 28 children and 35 individuals who were not involved in the protests. The group cautioned that the actual death toll could be considerably higher due to restrictions on information and limited access to affected areas.
Independent verification of the figures has not been possible. The Associated Press noted that it could not confirm the numbers cited by the activists.
The unrest has also had diplomatic repercussions. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, but the organisers withdrew the invitation amid the escalating violence. In a statement, the Forum said the decision was taken in light of the recent civilian deaths, adding that it would be inappropriate for Iran to be officially represented at the event under the current circumstances.
Araghchi criticised the move, alleging that his exclusion was driven by “false narratives and political pressure,” which he attributed to Israel and its allies in the United States.
Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures. However, on Saturday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged for the first time that “several thousand” people had died, while accusing the United States of responsibility for the violence.
Meanwhile, Iran’s president, along with the heads of the judiciary and parliament, issued a joint statement on Monday promising strict punishment for those described as perpetrators of violent acts. At the same time, the statement suggested that individuals who were misled and did not play an active role in what the leadership termed “terrorist actions” could face more lenient treatment.
Protests have continued across multiple cities, as international concern grows over the scale of the crackdown and the humanitarian impact of the unrest.
