Fresh accounts suggest deadly crackdown as Iran unrest escalates
January 10, 2026: More than 200 protesters have been killed in Tehran after Iranian security forces opened fire on demonstrations, a doctor in the capital has claimed. Speaking anonymously to TIME, the doctor said six hospitals alone recorded at least 217 deaths, mostly from live ammunition, amid a near total internet and phone shutdown across Iran.
The protests, now reported in all 31 provinces, began in late December over economic distress but quickly turned into calls for the overthrow of Iran’s Islamic leadership. The reported deaths come as US President Donald Trump warned Tehran it would “pay hell” if protesters were killed, escalating international pressure on the regime.
The doctor said many victims were young and described machine gun fire used against demonstrators outside a police station in northern Tehran. While rights groups have reported lower confirmed figures, they warn verification is difficult. Security personnel themselves have spoken of confusion and fear, with some believing the regime is nearing collapse.