Iran says over 100 officers killed as protesters defy government crackdown
Iranian state media reports that over 100 security personnel, including 109 nationwide according to Tasnim news agency, have been killed amid ongoing protests that protesters continue despite a heavy government crackdown. These demonstrations, the largest in years, have led to significant violence on both sides.
State television detailed 30 police and security force members killed in Isfahan province, six in Kermanshah, and additional deaths in cities like Tehran and Mashhad. Human rights groups report at least 116 total deaths, including protesters and officials, with hospitals overwhelmed and some protesters shot deliberately. Over 2,600 arrests have occurred amid internet blackouts exceeding 60 hours.
Protests erupted in late December 2025 over severe economic woes, including record inflation, soaring food prices like chicken and cooking oil, currency devaluation, and energy shortages. They have broadened into anti-regime chants, demands to end the Islamic Republic, and criticism of foreign policy priorities favoring proxies like Hezbollah over domestic needs.
Timeline Overview
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Demonstrations began among Tehran’s bazaar merchants and spread to over 280 locations by early January.
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Violence peaked January 8-10, with machine gun fire reported in Tehran and nationwide clashes.
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As of January 11, 2026, unrest persists in major cities despite crackdowns, with calls for Supreme Leader Khamenei’s ouster.
Authorities blame foreign instigators like the US and Israel, impose internet shutdowns, and warn of capital punishment for “rioters.” Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened retaliation against US or Israeli strikes, while security forces use live ammunition.
