18 January 2026 :
January 17, 2026 - IRAN. Hrana Report on 21st day of protests: 3,097 protesters killed
Islamic Republic’s Leader Acknowledges “Thousands Killed” as Internet Shutdown Continues
On the twenty-first day of nationwide protests in Iran, despite the continued widespread internet blackout and intense security pressure, confirmed figures show that the total number of verified deaths has reached 3,308, with another 4,382 cases still under review. So far, 2,107 people with severe injuries have been identified, and the arrest of at least 24,266 individuals has been confirmed. On this day, the Leader of the Islamic Republic for the first time acknowledged that “several thousand people” had been killed during the protests. The release of new images from forensic medicine centers, an increase in mass arrests, and the intensification of international reactions were among today’s most significant developments.
On the twenty-first day of nationwide protests, while the widespread internet shutdown had exceeded 200 hours, international concerns and warnings over human rights violations continued to grow. At the same time, independent documentation efforts, including broad public calls for participation in recording evidence of human rights abuses, intensified.
Ongoing Communications Disruptions
The nationwide internet shutdown, which began on Thursday night, January 8, passed the 200-hour mark on the twenty-first day and continues. Although very limited and brief increases in connectivity were reported at certain points in recent hours, overall access to the global internet remains at only a few percent of normal levels.
The continuation of this situation has caused severe disruptions to citizens’ communications, independent information-sharing, and the transfer of information from inside the country. Families of those killed or detained are facing serious difficulties in following up on the status of their loved ones, and the process of collecting and verifying human rights information is encountering unprecedented delays and limitations.
Meanwhile, media outlets close to security institutions have reported the limited activation of messaging applications and what they refer to as the “national internet,” a measure that, according to these sources, aims to control communications and sever connections between networks outside the country and those inside. Nevertheless, the global internet is still reported to be cut off, and no specific timeline has been announced for the full restoration of connectivity.
International Reactions
At the international level, reactions to developments in Iran intensified on the twenty-first day. The U.S. president, in his latest remarks, stated that “the time has come to look for new leadership in Iran,” holding the Islamic Republic responsible for the country’s destruction. These comments followed his earlier remarks about the non-implementation of hundreds of death sentences in Iran.
In another development, the Argentine government designated the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and imposed sanctions on individuals linked to it. Additionally, the U.S. State Department announced financial rewards and relocation assistance for information related to the financial activities of the IRGC. The president of the European Parliament also stated that efforts to place the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations would continue.
Government Reactions
Inside the country, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, while acknowledging that “several thousand people” were killed during the protests, described protesters and their foreign supporters as “criminals” and threatened to confront what he called “domestic and international seditionists.”
At the same time, the Tehran prosecutor denied claims about the cancellation of protesters’ executions, stating that the judiciary’s response would be “decisive, swift, and deterrent.” He added that a large number of cases had resulted in indictments and been referred to court.
On the same day, law enforcement officials also reported widespread arrests, including more than 1,500 people detained in Gilan Province.
Statistics
Based on case-by-case, verified data compiled by HRANA through the end of the twenty-first day of the protests:
- Recorded protests: 621 cases
- Confirmed fatalities: 3,308 people
- Protesters: 3,097
- Children under 18: 22
- Military and government forces: 166
- Non-protesting civilians: 23
- Deaths under investigation: 4,382 cases
- Severely injured: 2,107 people
- Arrested individuals: 24,266 people
- Broadcast forced confessions: 132 cases
Note: These figures are based solely on individually verified cases. Given the internet shutdown and severe communication restrictions, the actual human toll of the ongoing protests in Iran may be significantly higher than these numbers.
Conclusion
The twenty-first day of nationwide protests in Iran was marked by the continued internet blackout, mounting evidence of the scale of the crackdown, and an unprecedented acknowledgment by the Leader of the Islamic Republic of the extent of the fatalities. At the same time, escalating international reactions and solidarity gatherings abroad, alongside the government’s continued security and judicial approach, indicate that the crisis is still on an intensifying trajectory.
