UN Fact-Finding Mission Says Iran Protest Death Toll Far Higher Than Official Figures
UN Fact-Finding Mission Says Iran Protest Death Toll Far Higher Than Official Figures
A United Nations fact-finding mission has reported credible information suggesting that the number of people killed during recent protests in Iran is significantly higher than official government figures, describing the government’s violent response as among the deadliest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The mission, speaking at a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, expressed serious concern over the scale of violence used against demonstrators and stressed that credible reports indicate thousands of deaths among protesters. The council has extended its independent investigation into alleged human rights violations in Iran and urged Tehran to end excessive force, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and measures such as internet blackouts.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Iranian authorities to stop the repression and to comply with international human rights standards. He described the crackdown as involving lethal force against largely peaceful protesters, including children, and highlighted the urgent need to gather evidence for accountability.
Tehran’s official death toll — broadcast on state television in mid-January — reported 3,117 deaths in protests that began on December 28, 2025, a figure much lower than estimates from rights groups and independent monitors. The Iranian claim included 2,427 civilians and security personnel but did not detail the remainder.
Rights organisations such as the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency and other monitors have independently verified several thousand deaths, with some estimates significantly exceeding official numbers, leading to widespread international concern.
The protests, originating in response to economic hardship, have broadened into wider grievances against Iran’s political leadership. The ongoing UN inquiry aims to document violations and determine whether crimes under international law, including potential crimes against humanity, have occurred.
