Protests on the streets of Iran. Photo UGC.
According to the human rights network HRANA, based in the USA, the total number of deaths resulting from anti-government protests in Iran currently stands at 538 people. This information was announced on January 11, while earlier reports indicated 203 victims, as noted by DW.
Since January 8, Iranian authorities have completely blocked the internet, significantly limiting access to information from the country. The blockage has lasted for over 70 hours. Events are only being tracked thanks to Starlink satellite communication, as reported by DW journalists. For the first time in the history of protests, authorities have begun using drones for surveillance, allowing them to identify protesters from the air. The exact number of deaths and arrests at this moment is impossible to determine.
Security forces are acting with increased brutality, as the current protests differ in scale and nature from previous ones.
Judging by the level of repression, threatening statements from the authorities, and the narrative of state media, the situation has become unexpected for the Iranian leadership.The situation in hospitals is also alarming: "There is a high risk of the wounded being abducted by law enforcement agencies. In some cases, the bodies of the deceased are not returned to their families," reports one of the DW journalists.
Protests against the Iranian leadership have been ongoing since December 28, 2025. Despite harsh actions from Iranian security forces and the internet blockade, crowds of people are taking to the streets of Tehran and other major cities. Protesters are banging on pots and shouting slogans like "Death to Khamenei," directing their demands at Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while drivers honk in support.
On January 10, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared its readiness to suppress the protests. "Ensuring state security is a red line for the Iranian military, therefore the army will use force to protect national interests, strategic infrastructure, and public property," stated the IRGC in a broadcast on state television.
