18.01.2026 10:10
The death toll in the protests that have been ongoing in Iran for 22 days has officially risen to 3,308, while Iranian leader Khamenei confirmed the claim that thousands of people have died in the demonstrations for the first time after several days. While it is alleged that the Tehran administration used toxic chemicals against the protesters, images of a sniper targeting protesters during the demonstrations in Isfahan have drawn significant backlash.
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 3,308.
NUMBER OF ARRESTS EXCEEDS 24,000
According to HRANA's report, a total of 24,266 people have been detained as a result of events in many parts of the country. In the incidents that occurred during the protests, 3,308 people lost their lives.
While Iranian officials have not yet made a statement regarding the total number of those who died or were injured in the protests, they reported that 3,000 people, alleged to be affiliated with terrorist organizations or provoking the events, have been detained.
HAMANEY CONFIRMED THE CLAIM FOR THE FIRST TIME
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated in a statement yesterday that "those connected to Israel and the US have caused great damage and killed thousands of people." HRANA, based in Virginia, USA, reported yesterday that the death toll has risen to 3,090.
FORMER BRITISH MP: THEY USED TOXIC CHEMICALS
A former British MP referred to a "reliable report" he examined, stating that Iranian officials may have used "toxic chemicals" in the deadliest protest crackdown in the country's modern history. Bill Rammell said in an interview with GB News, "People believe that a type of toxic chemical was used against the protesters, and this has caused some of the injured to die days later."
Newsweek later reported that he stated the news came from "reliable Iranian-Kurdish sources" but had not yet been verified. The former MP said that if these claims are true, it would represent an "extraordinary" escalation in Iran's tactics against its own citizens.
FOOTAGE HAD EMERGED
In a video obtained by Iran International on January 8, security forces were seen using unusual weapons against protesters in Sabzevar, eastern Iran. The footage shows individuals wearing protective clothing and masks designed for hazardous chemicals in sand-colored vehicles deployed on the streets of Sabzevar. The video also features a dark-bordered yellow triangular sign indicating a warning for hazardous materials.
Additionally, photos obtained by Iran International showed a sniper targeting protesters from the roof of the Isfahan municipality building during the recent national uprising.
PROTESTS IN IRAN
Protests initiated by shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar of Tehran on December 28, 2025, due to the significant devaluation of the local currency against foreign currencies and economic issues, spread to many cities.
After the events that escalated during the protests in Tehran on January 8, the country's administration blocked internet access.