2K? 12K? Estimates of Iran Toll Rising Fast.
In this photo obtained by the Associated Press, Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (UGC via AP)
Estimates of the number of protesters killed in Iran are continuing to rise sharply as demonstrations that began in the final week of December intensify. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported Tuesday that more than 2,000 protesters have been killed since the unrest began, according to the Washington Post. The UK government has cited the same figure, though Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper cautioned that the true toll could be much higher.
A separate report from CBS News cited a source inside Iran—after Tehran began allowing international phone calls on Tuesday—who estimated the death toll could range between 12,000 and 20,000. None of these figures have been independently confirmed.
Even at the lower estimate, the death toll far exceeds that of any protest movement in Iran in recent decades and evokes comparisons to the turmoil surrounding the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Associated Press reported. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the growing number of casualties as “horrifying,” condemning what she called the excessive use of force and ongoing restrictions on freedom.
President Trump also responded to the situation, warning of potential U.S. military action. In a post on Truth Social, he urged demonstrators to continue their efforts and called for accountability for those responsible for the violence. Trump said he has canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops, adding that assistance is forthcoming.
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