The death toll from ongoing anti-government protests in Iran has surged past 2,500, according to human rights monitors, as former US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the regime and cancelled planned talks.
Escalating Violence and a Soaring Death Toll
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, that at least 2,571 people have been killed in the nationwide unrest. The agency stated that 2,403 of the dead were protesters, while 147 were affiliated with the government. This grim figure surpasses the fatalities seen in any other period of turmoil since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Protests initially sparked by economic hardship in December have rapidly evolved into a direct challenge to the ruling clerical establishment, with graffiti and chants in the capital Tehran calling for the death of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Images from global media show armed forces confronting demonstrators, and reports indicate videos of body bags lining morgues.
Skylar Thompson of the rights agency told the Associated Press the new toll was "shocking," noting it had reached four times the death toll of the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests in just two weeks. "We’re horrified, but we still think the number is conservative," she warned.
International Reaction and Trump's Ultimatum
The international response has intensified alongside the violence. Donald Trump publicly encouraged protesters, posting on Truth Social on Tuesday, 13 January: "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!" He announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing stops, adding, "HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
In a subsequent interview with CBS, Trump told anchor Tony Dokoupil that "very strong action" would be taken if Iran carries out the execution of protesters. This warning comes as the first execution, that of 26-year-old shop owner Erfan Soltani, is scheduled for Wednesday. Soltani was reportedly arrested at his home last week and given just ten minutes with his family.
Iranian officials have retaliated with their own warnings, stating that the US would become a "legitimate target" should it intervene with strikes.
A Nation in Crisis and Widespread Detentions
Beyond the staggering loss of life, the scale of the regime's crackdown is further illustrated by mass arrests. More than 18,100 people are reported to have been detained during the protests. The Iranian state television, in its first official acknowledgement of casualties, quoted an official saying the country had "a lot of martyrs."
The protests represent one of the most significant challenges to theocratic rule in decades, with demonstrators openly targeting symbols of the regime's authority. The situation remains volatile, with fears the death toll and number of detainees could rise further as the government prepares to carry out executions.
