Over 50 killed in Iran protests, including children

According to the Norwegian human rights organization NGO Iran Human Rights, over the 13 days of protests — sparked by public anger at the regime and rising living costs — more than 51 protesters have been killed.

"At least 51 protesters, including nine children under the age of 18, have been killed and hundreds more injured in the first thirteen days of the new round of nationwide protests in Iran," the organization said.

At the same time, the Iranian human rights organization HRANA reported that it recorded at least 62 deaths, including 14 security personnel and 48 protesters.

US President Donald Trump, who bombed Iran last summer and last week warned Tehran that the US might support protesters, issued another warning yesterday, saying: "Better not start shooting, because we will start shooting too."

In a televised address, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised not to back down, accusing demonstrators of acting in the interests of opposition groups abroad and the United States, while prosecutors threatened protesters with the death penalty.

Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology stated that the decision to shut down the internet was made by "the competent security authorities under the prevailing circumstances of the country."

In videos broadcast by state television, reportedly, burning buses, cars, and motorcycles were shown, as well as fires in underground metro stations and banks.

Leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany issued a joint statement condemning the killings of protesters and calling on Iranian authorities to refrain from violence.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that the United Nations is very concerned about the deaths.

Protests in Iran

Since the end of December 2025, mass protests have been taking place in Iran, which have reached a serious scale and have already turned into armed clashes.

It all began with merchants from Tehran's central city market, who went out on the streets on December 28 to protest against the sharp fall of the national currency.

According to local media, the largest participants in the protests were sellers of mobile phones, electronics, and home appliances, who buy their goods in foreign currency and sell them in local currency.

Students and other segments of the population also joined the rallies, as well as, unexpectedly, those who were once considered "pillars of the regime."

The Iranian regime responded with extreme violence — shooting, special riot control measures, beatings, and mass arrests.

As of January 6, reports indicated 35 dead, including four children, and 1,200 arrested.

At the start of the unrest in Iran, US President Donald Trump reacted angrily to the crackdown, promising support to citizens if weapons were used against them.

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called the Iranian regime "Nazi-like" and also openly stated that "help is already on the way," hinting at possible US punishments for the Iranian authorities.

Meanwhile, The Times reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei prepared a plan to flee to Moscow in case the security forces fail to suppress the protests or begin to desert.