Iran Death Toll Surpasses 3,000 in Iran Amid Ongoing Internet Shutdown in Nationwide Uprising

Amid a nationwide internet blackout now entering its fourth day, reports from opposition groups indicate that the death toll in Iran’s ongoing protests has exceeded 3,000. 

 Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi has condemned the violence as a “major crime against humanity,” vowing that those responsible wills face justice in a future democratic Iran.

The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) has reported that the death toll from the uprising, which erupted on December 28, 2025, has surpassed 3,000 as of January 11, 2026. These figures are derived from investigations involving local sources, hospitals, forensic medicine centers, and families of the victims across 195 cities. The organization alleges that the Iranian regime has been compelled to broadcast images of some victims on state television, falsely blaming the deaths on opposition forces and protesters themselves.

Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), offered her condolences to the Iranian people, with special mention to the families, relatives, friends, and fellow activists of the fallen. She described the deceased as “proud martyrs” and asserted that this atrocity will not remain unanswered by the Iranian populace and its youth.

Rajavi further emphasized that the individuals who orchestrated and executed this massacre will inevitably be held accountable in a democratic Iran of the future.

While the PMOI’s figures represent the opposition’s perspective, independent human rights organizations have reported significantly lower death tolls. For instance, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates at least 544 fatalities, including 496 protesters and 48 security personnel, as of January 11, 2026. Reuters, citing HRANA, reports over 500 deaths, with 490 protesters and 48 security forces killed. Iranian state media, on the other hand, claims more than 100 security personnel have been killed, without providing confirmed protester casualty figures.

The protests, sparked by economic hardships and calls for regime change, have spread across all provinces, defying a communications blackout imposed by authorities to curb information flow. International observers note that the true scale of casualties remains difficult to verify due to restricted access and the shutdown.