Tehran, Jan. 27 (SANA) The number of people killed in more than a month of nationwide protests in Iran has risen above 6,100, according to human rights groups. The latest figures indicate 6,126 confirmed deaths, including 5,912 protesters and 214 members of government forces, with thousands more cases still under investigation.
Authorities have also arrested nearly 42,000 people, reported over 11,000 serious injuries, and broadcast hundreds of forced confessions. The unrest has been recorded in 651 incidents across 200 cities in 31 provinces.
The protests began on December 28, after traders in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar went on strike in response to the collapsing Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. Demonstrations quickly spread across the country, evolving into a broader movement calling for social justice, political reforms, and greater freedoms.
In response to the escalating situation, the United States has deployed a naval fleet led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East. President Donald Trump described the deployment as a show of strength in an “unstable” situation, but emphasized that diplomacy remains an option, noting that Iranian leaders have sought negotiations.
Iranian military officials warned that any attack on the country would be met decisively, though they insisted that Iran would not initiate a conflict. Meanwhile, the Iranian government has accused foreign powers of stirring unrest and has intensified its crackdown on demonstrators.
Despite the heavy security response, protesters continue to push for change, defying arrests, injuries, and a strict government-imposed media blackout.
