Iran: High death toll and increasing repression, clashes and street fighting

1. The popular uprising continues in several regions
2. Information from the Mujahideen Social HQ inside Iran
3. What regime officials are saying
4. International reactions

These events indicate that the Iranian uprising has entered a new phase of intensification: an escalation on the ground, particularly in Tehran and other major cities, is combined with the fall of fear in long-repressed strongholds such as Zahedan.

In a speech delivered on Saturday, January 17, Khamenei acknowledged thousands of deaths, while attributing responsibility to Donald Trump.

Internationally, pressure is mounting from the US Congress, Europe, the United Nations, and NGOs. Efforts to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization are gaining momentum.

Despite the regime's propaganda aimed at making people believe that executions have stopped, the reality on the ground shows that the crisis is structural, that the death penalty is systemic, and that Iranian society is moving towards a historic rupture and an equation of change.

The popular uprising continues in several regions

• In Khorramabad, fearing the fall of government buildings, the regime deployed tanks at strategic points in the city.
• In Tehran, in the Gholhak neighborhood, an ammunition depot belonging to the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij militia was set on fire by insurgents.
• On the evening of Saturday, January 17, fierce clashes broke out between insurgents and special units in Vali-Asr and Jomhouri streets.
• That same evening, scenes of urban guerrilla warfare took place on Ferdows Boulevard between young insurgents and special forces.
• Many areas of the capital now have a military presence. Jomhouri Square and its surroundings are cordoned off by “NOPO” special forces. Motorized patrols, armed with Kalashnikovs and shotguns, constantly crisscross neighborhoods such as Tehranpars.
• Despite these measures, young insurgents took to the streets on the evenings of January 14 and 15, chanting slogans against the regime. Intense clashes took place on Friday, January 16, in Tehranpars.
• In Rafsanjan on Thursday, January 15, insurgents attacked special forces, setting fire to the buildings of the Relief Committee, a post office, and a public bank.
• In Kermanshah, Eslamabad-e Gharb, and Ilam, clashes continued in the streets, while mountainous areas are now beyond the regime's control.
• In Isfahan, particularly in the Malek Shahr neighborhood, young insurgents clashed with special forces.
• In Mashhad, on the evening of Thursday, January 15, violent fighting broke out between insurgents, special units, and Revolutionary Guards.
• In Saveh that same evening, insurgents engaged in armed clashes with special forces on Motahari Street.

Information from the Mujahideen Social HQ inside Iran

• In Tehran, regime forces are on high alert.
• 52,000 law enforcement officers have been mobilized in the capital:
  • 24,000 from the Revolutionary Guards and Basij militias
  • 21,000 from the national police
  • 2,000 from the army
  • 5,000 foreign militiamen, mostly from the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi
• Armed patrols continuously crisscross the streets, including secondary roads and residential neighborhoods.
• These patrols are equipped with Kalashnikovs, rubber bullet rifles, tear gas launchers, pepper spray, and paintball guns to mark individuals, homes, and businesses.
• Checkpoints have been set up in urban centers, with random searches of car trunks.
• Heavy machine guns (DShK type) have been deployed in major squares and key crossing points in Tehran and the provinces.
• Snipers are positioned on rooftops overlooking sensitive areas, government buildings, and even homes.
• The Iranian army, which is not involved in direct repression, is responsible for protecting power plants, critical infrastructure, and state television facilities.

What regime officials are saying

• Nasirzadeh, Minister of Defense:

"The recent riots have been characterized by unprecedented violence.

The majority of the victims were killed with knives, by asphyxiation, or by blows to the head at point-blank range. More than 150 stores selling essential goods were destroyed without being looted. Military bases, prefectures, and radio and television centers were set on fire to seize the weapons they contained."

(Source: Telegram – Official IRIB Agency, January 15, 2026)

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims that many rioters were carrying knives and firearms and were specifically targeting ammunition depots. Several detainees, accused of moharebeh (war against God), knew the exact location of these depots.
• Farhikhtegan, a media outlet close to Ali Akbar Velayati (former minister and advisor to Khamenei), reports damage estimated at 3 trillion tomans (approximately €60 million) to banks and municipal infrastructure, including 2.1 trillion tomans to banks alone. 364 department stores were damaged in 30 provinces.
• (Source: Telegram – Farhikhtegan, January 15, 2026)

International reactions

• Newt Gingrich (former Speaker of the US House of Representatives):

“When the Iranian dictatorship says it will no longer execute anyone, it is lying openly.”

• Letter from 59 members of the US Congress to Marco Rubio:

"The Iranian people are clearly calling for a democratic, non-nuclear republic based on the separation of religion and state, pluralism, and human dignity. They reject all forms of dictatorship, whether monarchical or religious. “

• UN spokesperson: the number of protesters killed is ”appalling"; the institution expresses deep concern about the massacres and executions.
• Amnesty International calls for the massacres of protesters to be brought before the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court.