21.01.2026 10:31
As the death toll in the protests that have been ongoing in Iran for 25 days rises to 4,519, a notable statement has come from the Tehran administration following threats from U.S. President Donald Trump towards the country. Iran announced that it would declare 'jihad' by considering a possible attack on Religious Leader Khamenei as an attack on the Islamic world.
The US-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 4,519.
NUMBER OF ARRESTS EXCEEDS 26,000
According to HRANA's report, 26,314 people have been detained as a result of incidents in many parts of the country. In the events that occurred during the protests, 4,519 people, including 197 security personnel, lost their lives. HRANA had reported yesterday that the death toll had risen to 4,029.
CRITICAL WARNING FROM THE TEHRAN ADMINISTRATION
As the protests in Iran continue on their 25th day, a critical statement came from the Tehran administration. The National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament announced that any attack on the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be responded to with a "declaration of jihad." This warning further escalates Iran's already tense relations with the US and other foreign actors.
The commission stated that any attack on Khamenei would mean war not only against Iran but against the entire Islamic world, and in such a case, the process of "declaration of jihad" would begin with the fatwas of Islamic scholars.
CAME AFTER TRUMP'S CALL
This strong reaction came after US President Donald Trump's call for an end to Khamenei's nearly 40-year rule, and it escalated regional tensions with the increase of external pressures following the wave of protests in Iran. Tensions had already risen due to widespread protests in Iran and the government's harsh crackdown. The anger triggered by economic difficulties has turned into anti-regime actions, while the government's severe intervention has resulted in hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths. All these developments further deepen Iran's internationally isolated position.
One of the generals who is a spokesperson for the Iranian army described Trump's military threats as "noise," stating that any attempt to attack Khamenei would be responded to in a way that would "set their world on fire." This latest statement has led to comments that Iran-US relations are approaching a new conflict threshold, increasing uncertainty in both diplomatic and security fields in the Middle East.
PROTESTS IN IRAN
Protests that began on December 28, 2025, due to the significant depreciation 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 country’s administration 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 arrest 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 incidents during the protests, but they announced 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 CONFESSION
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated in a statement on January 17 that "individuals connected to Israel and the US caused great damage during the protests and killed several thousand people."