Human rights groups report: Death toll in Iran protests surpasses 648

The number of fatalities in Iran’s ongoing anti-government protests has surged to at least 648, according to Norway-based human rights organisation Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). The violent crackdown by security forces, now entering its 16th day, has left the country reeling.

Among the deceased are at least nine children under the age of 18, while thousands more have reportedly been injured in the widespread unrest. Earlier reports from the US-based HRANA had put the death toll at 544, highlighting the rapid escalation in casualties.

Accurate verification remains challenging due to nationwide internet blackouts, but harrowing videos from Tehran’s hospitals and morgues, showing stacks of bodies, have offered a stark glimpse into the severity of the government’s suppression.

International Reactions
The crackdown has drawn sharp condemnation from Western nations. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urged on social media that the Iranian authorities must halt their brutality against peaceful demonstrators and respect fundamental rights and freedoms.

Similarly, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with protesters, stating that the right to basic freedoms is universal, and France stands with those defending it. Earlier, Macron had joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a joint statement denouncing the killings in Iran.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued stern warnings to the West. Speaking to Cooper by phone, he demanded that the UK cease interference in Iran’s internal affairs. He accused certain Israel-backed “terrorist” media outlets of inciting violence in Iran and warned that Tehran may relocate its personnel if London fails to protect Iranian diplomatic missions. Araghchi insisted that Western support for protesters undermines Iran’s sovereignty.

Background and Escalation
The protests began on 28 December in Tehran’s markets, initially sparked by economic hardship and rampant inflation, but have since evolved into a broader political uprising. Tensions escalated last Thursday after exiled former Shah’s son Reza Pahlavi called for intensified demonstrations.

Currently, young Iranians and ordinary citizens are taking to the streets to demand the resignation of the current government, citing the plummeting value of the rial and administrative mismanagement. Human rights organisations have warned that, if the authorities maintain a hardline approach, the death toll could rise sharply in the coming days.

Summary of Casualties

The protests represent one of the most severe challenges to the Iranian government in recent years, and the situation remains fluid as both domestic and international attention intensifies.