Iran admits 2,000 protest deaths as Trump weighs military response

Tuesday 13 January 2026 - 14:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Iran admits 2,000 protest deaths as Trump weighs military response

Iranian authorities have for the first time acknowledged the scale of the deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, confirming that around 2,000 people were killed during two weeks of unrest. The admission comes as former United States president Donald Trump signals he is prepared to use military force against Iran, escalating tensions already sharpened by new trade measures targeting countries that continue to do business with Tehran.

Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any country trading with Iran, describing it as his first concrete step in response to the crackdown. He said air strikes remain among the “many, many options” under consideration and claimed Iranian leaders had reached out seeking negotiations. Despite that, he warned he might order action before any talks take place, suggesting that Washington will not wait indefinitely for diplomatic progress.

The White House confirmed that Trump was briefed on potential military responses, with further national security meetings scheduled. According to US media reports, the options under review include direct military strikes, cyber operations aimed at Iran’s critical infrastructure and psychological operations designed to bolster anti government demonstrators. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the military is “looking at the situation” and examining “very strong options,” adding that any Iranian retaliation would be met with strikes “at levels they have never seen before.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt underlined that Trump “has shown he is not afraid to use military options if and when he deems it necessary,” while suggesting that private messages from Tehran differ significantly from the country’s public rhetoric. She said Trump is determined to probe those quiet overtures, hinting at a parallel track of pressure and potential dialogue. The new 25 percent tariffs apply to countries that maintain trade ties with Iran, including China, Russia, Brazil, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, and were announced on Trump’s Truth Social platform.

On the ground in Iran, the human cost of the unrest continues to climb. An Iranian official told Reuters that roughly 2,000 people have been killed, including members of the security forces, blaming “terrorists” for many of the deaths. The figure far exceeds earlier tallies compiled by rights groups. A US based human rights news agency had confirmed 646 deaths as of Monday, while the Norway based organisation Iran Human Rights warned the true toll could reach 6,000.

The scale of the killings has prompted sharp international condemnation. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was “horrified” by the violence and insisted that “this dreadful cycle of violence cannot continue.” He stressed that the Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard, urging the authorities to rein in security forces and open space for peaceful dissent instead of deepening repression.

The protests erupted on 28 December after the collapse of the Iranian rial, which is now trading at more than 1.4 million to the dollar, reflecting severe economic strain and public anger over mismanagement and sanctions. What began as demonstrations over living costs and currency free fall rapidly evolved into broader calls challenging the four decades of rule by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The unrest has become one of the most significant challenges to the Islamic Republic in years, combining economic grievances with political demands.

Tehran insists it has restored stability. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the situation is “fully under control,” accusing the United States and Israel of orchestrating the violence without presenting evidence. He maintained that Iran is “ready for war, but also for dialogue” with Washington, framing the crisis as both a security confrontation and a potential diplomatic opening. The dual message reflects Iran’s attempt to deter foreign intervention while leaving room for negotiations.

At the same time, Iranian officials are issuing explicit warnings. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf declared that US military bases and Israel would become “legitimate targets” if Washington intervenes directly. On Monday, authorities staged large pro government rallies, with state television broadcasting crowds chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” seeking to project domestic support for the leadership and to counter images of anti government protests circulating abroad.

The government has imposed a sweeping internet shutdown that has now lasted more than four days. Monitoring group NetBlocks estimates the blackout had surpassed 108 hours by Tuesday, cutting off much of the country from the outside world. Human rights organisations caution that the communications blackout has allowed security forces to intensify their crackdown away from international scrutiny, making it harder to document arrests, injuries and fatalities. As Iran faces mounting internal unrest and external pressure, the combination of rising death tolls, economic collapse and the threat of foreign military action is deepening uncertainty for both its citizens and the wider region.