By Abdulhammed Abdulmalik Ayodeji | Fact Frontier.
Click here to read more about the reporter.
Iran has been plunged into renewed nationwide unrest as fresh protests erupted across several cities, deepening fears among rights groups and the international community over a violent security crackdown that has been described in stark terms as a potential “massacre” of civilians.
The latest demonstrations come amid a deepening economic crisis marked by soaring inflation, fuel shortages, and the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial. What began in late December 2025 as protests over living conditions has rapidly evolved into open political dissent, with demonstrators openly challenging the authority of the state and chanting slogans against the country’s top leadership.
Despite the imposition of a near-total internet blackout, protesters were reported to have gathered in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Qom, Shiraz and Ahvaz, with crowds defying security forces late into the night. Internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks confirmed that connectivity across Iran had dropped to minimal levels, describing the shutdown as
a deliberate attempt to disrupt communications amid escalating unrest.
Human rights organisations say the blackout has coincided with an intensification of lethal force by Iranian security agencies. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 116 people had been killed since the protests began, noting that the figure was likely far higher due to restrictions on information.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) warned that it had received alarming reports from inside the country. In a statement, the organisation said it had documented
credible eyewitness accounts indicating that security forces have killed large numbers of protesters across multiple provinces during the ongoing internet shutdown.
Read also:
• Renee Good shot dead by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Amnesty International also expressed grave concern, stating that Iranian authorities were
escalating their unlawful use of lethal force against protesters,and warned that security forces appeared to be firing live ammunition directly at crowds.
Medical workers and local sources cited by rights groups reported that hospitals in several cities were overwhelmed, with some families allegedly being pressured not to speak publicly about relatives killed during the protests. CHRI said bodies were being released under strict conditions, including instructions to conduct quiet burials.
Iranian authorities have rejected accusations of mass killings and defended their response. In a televised address, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said the government would not tolerate what he described as attempts to destabilise the country, declaring that
those who turn protests into chaos, destruction and insecurity will face decisive action from the state.
Similarly, Iran’s Attorney General warned that individuals accused of threatening national security could be treated as “enemies of God,” a charge under Iranian law that carries the possibility of the death penalty.
State media has portrayed the protests as being driven by “foreign-backed elements”, insisting that security forces are acting to preserve public order. A senior official was quoted as saying,
The Islamic Republic will not allow vandalism and violence to be disguised as peaceful protest.
Opposition figures abroad have urged protesters to persist. Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former monarch, encouraged continued resistance, saying:
Do not leave the streets. This is a historic moment for the future of Iran.
International concern has continued to mount. A spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry said Paris was
deeply concerned by reports of excessive and deadly force against protesters,urging Iranian authorities to respect fundamental freedoms and prevent further loss of life.
As protests persist amid arrests, gunfire and widespread intimidation, Iran faces growing scrutiny over its handling of dissent. Rights groups warn that unless restraint is exercised, the ongoing crackdown could result in even greater bloodshed in the days ahead.
