20.01.2026 11:32
As the death toll in the protests that have been ongoing in Iran for 24 days rises to 4,029, a striking message has come from Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the deposed Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who has been revealed to have had secret meetings with the U.S. Pahlavi stated that Iranian leader Khamenei and his associates will be judged like the Nazis, and he called on Iranians to prepare for a new wave of street protests.
The U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) announced that the number of people who lost their lives in protests that began due to economic issues in Iran has risen to 4,029.
THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS EXCEEDS 26,000
According to HRANA's report, 26,015 people have been detained as a result of events in many parts of the country. In the incidents that occurred during the protests, 4,029 people, including 180 security personnel, lost their lives. HRANA had reported yesterday that the death toll had risen to 3,919.
NEW MESSAGE FROM REZA PAHLAVI
As the protests in Iran continue on their 24th day, a striking statement came from Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
CALL FOR A NEW WAVE OF PROTESTS
Pahlavi, who was revealed to have been in secret talks with the U.S., addressed Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, labeling him an anti-Iranian criminal at the head of the "occupying regime" in the country, and called on Iranians to prepare for a new wave of street protests.
"YOU AND YOUR ACCOMPLICES WILL BE TRIED LIKE THE NAZIS"
Pahlavi stated in a message he wrote on X, "You, your regime, and all your agents will be held accountable for every drop of blood spilled, without exception." He continued, "Just as Nazi criminals were tried and punished in Nuremberg, you and your accomplices will be tried and punished in the court of the Iranian people."
Pahlavi told Iranians that they are not alone and that their resistance is changing history; he also added that the Islamic Republic is beginning to fragment and its power is weakening. Calling on Iranians to maintain their faith in unity and courage, he said that the sorrow felt for the slain should be transformed into determination against Khamenei and his domestic and foreign allies. Pahlavi urged his supporters to be ready for a "broader, stronger, and more determined" street resurgence, including an attempt to seize Tehran and reclaim Iran, and concluded his speech with the slogan "Long live Iran!"
PROTESTS IN IRAN
Protests that began on December 28, 2025, due to the significant devaluation of the local currency against foreign currencies and economic issues, initiated by shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar, spread to many cities. Following the escalation of protests in the capital Tehran on January 8, the government blocked internet access. Recently, it has been reported that internet access has been partially and limitedly restored.
NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM IRANIAN AUTHORITIES
Although the protests in Iran have subsided, HRANA, based in Virginia, USA, continues to update the death and detention counts, claiming to have verified more cases. Iranian officials have not yet made a statement regarding the total number of deaths or injuries in the protests, but they reported that more than 3,700 security personnel were injured and that 3,000 people, alleged to be affiliated with terrorist organizations or provoking the events, were detained.
KHAMENEI'S CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated in a statement on January 17 that "individuals connected to Israel and the U.S. caused significant damage during the protests and killed several thousand people."