Iran’s security forces reportedly killed or executed 30,000 protesters over two-day crackdown

Iranian security forces killed at least 30,000 protesters over two days, according to new reports, dwarfing initial estimates from international human rights organizations and Tehran.

Between Jan. 8 and 9, so many people were killed by Iranian authorities that it became nearly impossible for the country’s health services to keep up. That Friday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered the Supreme National Security Council to “show no mercy” to protesters, giving police full authority to use lethal force against protesters, according to reporting from The New York Times.

The death toll reportedly exploded during this period, with officials at Iran’s Ministry of Health recording over 30,000 deaths, according to new reporting from Time. Videos and witness accounts also released over the past two weeks have reported security forces opening fire with automatic weapons into crowds of protesters. Military trucks with mounted machine guns and rooftop sniper nests were also seen firing into demonstrators. 

The violent crackdown came after days of mounting protest pressure from demonstrations in Iran that quickly evolved from small-scale calls for economic reform to widespread demands for regime change. Tehran quickly instituted a comprehensive internet blackout in the country, which has made it difficult for outside organizations to independently confirm a death toll.  

The death toll reported Sunday is far higher than earlier estimates from both independent organizations and the Iranian government. Tehran confirmed on Jan. 21 that at least 3,117 people had been killed by security forces during protests, but blamed the violence on foreign agitators and rioters. 

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has closely followed the protests this month, has recorded 5,459 deaths and is currently investigating over 17,000 other cases. 

The crackdown, combined with the ongoing internet blackout, has seemingly curbed the massive protests that rocked the country before Jan. 8 and 9. At its height, protests were recorded in all of Iran’s 31 provinces and witnesses recorded seeing millions of people in the streets.