Iran protests escalate as death toll mounts, international pressure grows

About 200 people gathered outside Fredericton City Hall to show support for protesters in Iran as demonstrations continue across the country. Several attendees said they have friends or family in Iran whom they have been unable to contact because of widespread communications blackouts. (Credit: Tabassom Tallaie)

Deadly anti-government protests in Iran are intensifying, with human rights groups reporting at least 2,000 people killed as demonstrations continue to challenge the country’s clerical leadership. 

The unrest, now in its third week, has triggered a harsh crackdown by Iranian authorities and drawn increasingly forceful responses from the U.S., Europe and international human rights bodies.

The protests began in late December 2025 following mounting economic hardship, political repression and anger over government accountability. Demonstrations quickly spread across major cities and rural regions, drawing participation from students, workers and women’s rights activists. As security forces moved to suppress the rallies, violence escalated, with reports of live ammunition being used against protesters.

Iranian authorities have imposed sweeping communications restrictions, including internet shutdowns and limits on mobile networks, making it difficult to verify casualty figures. State media has portrayed the protests as foreign-backed unrest, a claim repeatedly rejected by activists and rights organizations.

According to human rights monitors, Iranian state television has aired at least 97 coerced confessions from detained protesters. Advocacy groups stated many of those confessions were obtained under torture or extreme psychological pressure, a practice long documented in Iran’s justice system.

Detainees shown on television are often accused of collaborating with hostile foreign powers, allegations that can carry severe penalties, including execution.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has responded by extending the mandate of its Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran for two more years, along with a one-year extension of the UN special rapporteur on Iran.

The council cited credible allegations of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearances linked to the protests, calling on Iranian authorities to comply with international human rights obligations.

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump adopted a more confrontational posture, cancelling planned diplomatic engagements with Iranian officials and publicly urging protesters to continue demonstrating. 

“Keep protesting,” Trump said in a televised interview, adding that “help is on its way,” though U.S. officials have not clarified what form that assistance might take.

The shift marks a departure from previous efforts to re-engage Tehran through limited diplomatic channels. Analysts say Trump’s comments may embolden protesters but could also heighten risks of further repression by Iranian security forces, who have repeatedly warned against foreign interference.

European leaders have also signalled tougher measures.

The European Union (EU) is preparing targeted sanctions against Iranian officials and entities linked to the crackdown, focusing on those responsible for human rights abuses and censorship. Several EU member states have condemned the use of lethal force and called for international accountability mechanisms to be strengthened.

In Canada, members of the Iranian diaspora have mobilized in solidarity with protesters. Demonstrations have taken place in cities including Fredericton, Toronto and Vancouver, where participants called for international action and an end to violence against civilians.

The Iranian Canadian Congress issued a statement expressing deep concern over the situation, citing years of economic pressure from sanctions, domestic policy failures and the lasting impact of a brief conflict in June 2025.

The organization warned that broad sanctions often worsen conditions for ordinary citizens and said meaningful reform must include accountability, anti-corruption measures and respect for civil rights.

While emphasizing the importance of national security and stability, the group said the Iranian government must not use public grievances as justification for repression. It called on authorities to allow peaceful dissent and protect the basic rights of citizens.

As protests continue, observers warn that prolonged unrest in Iran could have significant regional and global consequences, including further instability in the Middle East, disruptions to energy markets and renewed tensions between Tehran and Western governments.

For now, the standoff shows little sign of easing, as protesters and authorities remain locked in a deadly confrontation.