Iran International, an opposition-aligned news outlet, reported on Sunday that over 36,000 people were killed by Iranian authorities during protests earlier this month, citing witnesses, families of victims and internal reports.
The outlet said the estimate for the death toll on January 8-9 is based on classified documents, field reports, and accounts from medical staff. It described the events as the "bloodiest massacre of civilians during street protests, over a two-day period, in history."
Most killings were allegedly carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij militia, with proxies from Iraq and Syria also involved, according to the report.
Sources in Iran's interior ministry told the outlet provincial security council figures from January 20 put the toll above 30,000. A report to parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on January 21 cited over 27,500 dead, while two Supreme National Security Council sources said the IRGC compiled reports showing over 33,000 and over 36,500 deaths.
The outlet also claimed to have evidence, including photos, that some injured people were executed by security forces in hospitals.
Time magazine reported similar figures on Sunday, citing two unnamed senior Iranian health ministry officials who said about 30,000 were killed on January 8-9. Time noted it could not independently verify the numbers.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed the Time report as a "Hitler-style BIG LIE" on social media platform X.
The New York Times reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei instructed security forces on January 9 to "crush" demonstrations by "any means necessary," citing two unnamed Iranian officials.
Protests began on December 28 following the collapse of the rial and were met with a severe crackdown. The Iranian government has acknowledged 3,117 deaths, including some security personnel.
