The 2026 Massacre in Iran

The massacre that began in late December 2025 and has continued into 2026 is described as the largest massacre of government opponents in the entire history of Iran. In an atmosphere of fear and repression, when the authorities cut off the internet at the height of the violence and barred journalists from independent reporting, estimating the number of dead and injured has been extremely difficult. The figures below are based on minimum estimates drawn from available information so far.

Number of dead: According to estimates cited by Iran International, more than 36,500 people were killed on January 8 and 9, 2026 alone.

Number of injured: Based on a report by The Sunday Times, echoed by Iran International, over 330,000 people were injured on the same two days.

Prof. Amir Mobarez Parasta, an ophthalmic surgeon and senior researcher at the Munich Eye Center, reports—based on information from colleagues in Iran—that around 30,000 eye injuries have been registered in Iranian hospitals so far, many of which resulted in complete and irreversible loss of an eye.

On January 13, The Guardian reported that Iranian security forces had used pellet guns, live ammunition, and even heavy DShK machine guns against protesters. A spokesperson for the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights, citing evidence, stated that even when using so-called “less-lethal” weapons, security forces deliberately targeted protesters’ heads, eyes, genitals, and other vital organs in order to maim and terrorize them—a method previously observed during the Mahsa Amini protests.

The Iranian authorities have, on previous occasions, fired on unarmed demonstrators in the streets, killing and injuring many. However, the events of 2026 are distinct both in the scale of the violence and in several new methods reportedly employed:

Firing from elevated positions with machine guns

Since 2009, authorities have repeatedly placed gunmen on rooftops to fire at crowds as a method of instilling fear. In 2026, however, beyond the presence of snipers, there were reports in several locations of crowds being raked with machine-gun fire from above—an escalation far beyond previous tactics.

Knife attackers among the crowd

Some individuals embedded within the protests, sometimes even chanting slogans, reportedly turned suddenly on demonstrators and stabbed them. Paying attention to these attacks is also important to understand how misleading or disruptive messages can spread during protests.

Use of heavy military equipment

Tanks were reportedly brought into city streets, evoking images from the Soviet era when armored vehicles were used to suppress civilians in cities such as Tbilisi. Military trucks and other heavy equipment were also observed. Another reported development was the use of DShK heavy machine guns against civilians.

Chants by foreign-affiliated forces

In some military pickup trucks, individuals described as foreign-affiliated members of the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were heard chanting slogans such as “Labbaika ya Khamenei.” Their accents reportedly suggested they were not Iranian nationals. The IRGC, officially designated as a terrorist organization by the governments of the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as by the Council of the European Union, is officially tasked with foreign operations, yet reports indicate its presence in actions against unarmed Iranian civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.

Intimidation chants after dispersal

After crowds thinned, groups described as thugs reportedly entered the streets shouting religious slogans such as “Ya Heydar,” in an apparent effort to intimidate remaining residents and shift the atmosphere from protest to fear.

Raids on hospitals

While not unprecedented, attacks on hospitals were reportedly more widespread this time. Observers believe the aim was to prevent injured protesters from returning home, instead transferring them to detention centers or leaving them to die.

Threats from senior officials

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, who in 2022 had struck a conciliatory tone, reportedly adopted a harsher stance during these events, publicly threatening swift executions.

Communications blackout

Although internet shutdowns had occurred in previous protests, this time communications were reduced to a minimum. Ordinary phone service became inaccessible for many. Access to domestic websites from abroad was heavily restricted. Authorities reportedly attempted to jam Starlink satellite internet signals and raided homes to confiscate satellite reception equipment.

Official Narratives

The scale of the events has been described as so vast that authorities have not attempted outright denial. Instead, they have acknowledged the violence while offering conflicting narratives to justify it. Protesters were labeled with terms such as “ISIS members” or “Israeli spies,” despite reports that many of the dead and injured were under 18 years old.

Observers note that numerous satellites monitor events over Iran, sometimes capturing images detailed enough to identify vehicle license plates. For foreign officials who wish to know what is happening, access to information is available. However, for those who prefer not to confront the reality for political or economic reasons, official narratives provide a convenient pretext for inaction.

There are also reports that some security personnel involved in crackdowns used psychoactive substances, including Captagon. Analysts suggest that such narratives may serve not only external audiences but also help perpetrators rationalize their actions internally, convincing themselves they were confronting terrorists rather than civilians.

The Future of Iran

A government that, according to many observers, faces deep hostility from a large majority of its population cannot endure indefinitely. Hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of families are said to have been directly affected by death, blinding injuries, or permanent mutilation.

Many believe that such a system has no future other than collapse. The longer it remains in power, the heavier the record of alleged crimes becomes. From this perspective, it is seen as a human and moral responsibility to work toward a future in which the people of Iran are freed from violence and repression.