Rising Toll in Iran Unrest: Dozens Killed, Over 1,200 Arrested

As protests entered their second week, human rights monitors tallied at least 29 fatalities and more than 1,200 arrests by January 6. Among the dead were minors, according to local reporting, while videos shared from cities in western Iran showed tear gas deployed in crowded public spaces. Additional footage and testimonies pointed to raids and alleged coerced confessions, a grim pattern familiar from earlier cycles of dissent and crackdown.

Authorities have struck a dual pose—acknowledging economic grievances in the abstract while denouncing “rioters” and promising to identify and detain perceived agitators. Shopkeepers and transit hubs in parts of Tehran operated under visible police and plainclothes presence, with some merchants reportedly pressured to reopen during strikes. The unrest, which began with cost-of-living anger, now carries a more overtly political tenor as chants and banners call for sweeping change.

The risk calculus for all sides is stark: families fear for loved ones already detained; medics navigate intimidation; and security services face escalating confrontations with large crowds. With the casualty count mounting and detentions piling up, diplomats abroad warn of a trajectory toward further bloodshed unless de-escalation steps are taken swiftly.

(JPost/VFI News)

“God of compassion, stretch out Your hand over Iran—heal the wounded, shelter the vulnerable, and bring justice without further loss of life. Strengthen those who seek peace, expose the lies and abuses of the Ayatollah regime, and open a path for truthful leadership that honors the dignity of every person.”