In a tragic escalation of violence amid Iran’s ongoing protests, a 2-year-old boy named Ali Mohammad Sadeghi from Dehaghan, Isfahan Province, has been confirmed as a victim of the regime’s security forces. According to reports from Iranian media, the child was fatally shot with live ammunition while perched on his father’s shoulders during a demonstration. A family relative disclosed that the boy’s relatives are facing severe pressure from authorities to conceal the circumstances of his death. The bullet struck him in the side, and his parents reportedly held his body in the snow overnight before burying him the following day.

Sadeghi’s death is part of a broader pattern of casualties emerging from the unrest. Another recent victim identified is 18-year-old Ali Ayazi, a youth football player for Sepahan FC in Isfahan. He was killed on January 8, 2026, after being shot by security forces during protests in the province.

PMOI Releases Names of Additional Victims

On Friday, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) published the names of 450 additional individuals killed in the nationwide uprising, following thorough verification. This list includes 51 women and 35 children and adolescents aged 10 to 17. Notable among them are 3-year-old Bahar Hosseini from Neyshabur and the aforementioned infant, Ali Mohammad Sadeghi.

To date, the PMOI has documented 1,449 martyrs from the protests, comprising 176 women and at least 100 minors under 18. The verified fatalities are distributed across provinces, with 369 in Tehran, 187 in Isfahan, 116 in Gilan, and 107 in Razavi Khorasan.

Renewed Protests and International Tensions

The protests have intensified following U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning of potential military action against Iran. This resurgence comes amid reports of mass killings by regime forces, exacerbating domestic unrest.

EU Designates IRGC as Terrorist Organization

In a significant diplomatic move, the European Union has officially classified Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision, announced after years of debate within the 27-member bloc, responds directly to the IRGC’s role in the brutal suppression of protests, which has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths.

EU foreign ministers reached unanimous agreement during a recent meeting, marking a pivotal shift in Europe’s policy toward Tehran. The move aligns the EU with nations such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, which have previously designated the IRGC similarly.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, also Vice-President of the European Commission, highlighted the decision’s importance: “Repression cannot go unanswered… Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.” This statement reflects the EU’s strong condemnation of the IRGC’s domestic repression and international destabilizing efforts.

Overcoming Internal Hurdles and Broader Implications

The designation overcame longstanding resistance, with France—the final holdout—reversing its position on January 28, 2026. Advocates like Germany and the Netherlands had pushed for the action, citing the IRGC’s involvement in human rights violations, cyber operations, surveillance, and assassination plots in Europe.

The decision follows a January 2026 European Parliament resolution urging the terrorist label, amid estimates of over 12,000 protest-related deaths—though official figures report thousands. Seven UN human rights experts have called for accountability from Iranian authorities.

Globally, this aligns with actions by:

  • The United States, which designated the IRGC in 2019 under the Trump administration.
  • Canada and Australia, recognizing its terrorist activities.
  • Middle Eastern nations like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

While largely symbolic, the label imposes practical measures, including asset freezes, travel bans, and funding restrictions on IRGC-affiliated entities. This development underscores growing international isolation for the Iranian regime amid its handling of internal dissent.

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