LONDON — The loss of life toll from main anti-government protests in Iran reached 646 as of Monday, in line with information printed by the the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists Information Company (HRANA), over 16 days of unrest.
No less than 10,721 folks have been arrested, HRANA stated, in protests which were recorded in 606 areas in 187 cities throughout all 31 Iranian provinces. Among the many lifeless are 505 protesters and 9 youngsters, the group reported.
The HRANA information depends on the work of activists inside and out of doors the nation. ABC Information can’t independently confirm these numbers. The Iranian authorities has not offered any loss of life tolls throughout the ongoing protests.
Iranian state-aligned media, in the meantime, has reported that greater than 100 members of the safety forces have been killed within the unrest. HRANA stated that 133 army and safety personnel had been amongst these killed within the protest wave to this point, together with one prosecutor.
This video seize taken on Jan. 13, 2026 from UGC photographs posted on social media on Jan. 10, 2026 exhibits clashes in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran.
-/UGC/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday introduced a 25% tariff on any nation doing enterprise with Iran, after repeatedly warning Tehran in opposition to using power to suppress the continuing protests.
“Efficient instantly, any Nation doing enterprise with the Islamic Republic of Iran pays a Tariff of 25% on any and all enterprise being completed with the USA of America,” Trump stated in a social media publish on Monday. “This Order is last and conclusive.”
In response to the announcement, Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated the place of Beijing — which is a key buying and selling associate for Tehran — “could be very clear — there are not any winners in a tariff battle. China will firmly safeguard its authentic rights and pursuits.”
China “helps Iran in sustaining nationwide stability,” she added. “We have now at all times opposed interference in different nations’ inside affairs and the use or risk of power in worldwide relations.”
Trump’s nationwide safety staff are anticipated to satisfy on the White Home on Tuesday to debate his choices for intervention within the Islamic Republic.
President Donald Trump waves after arriving on Air Drive One from Florida, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Picture/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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One U.S. official instructed ABC Information that among the many choices into consideration are new sanctions in opposition to key regime figures or in opposition to Iran’s power or banking sectors.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt recommended reporters on Monday that army choices stay open to Trump.
The president, she stated, “is at all times holding all of his choices on the desk and air strikes can be one of many many, many choices on the desk for the commander in chief. Diplomacy is at all times the primary choice for the president.”
Citing “escalating” protests and elevated safety measures, the State Division additionally urged Individuals to go away Iran.
“U.S. residents ought to anticipate continued web outages, plan various technique of communication, and, if secure to take action, contemplate departing Iran by land to Armenia or Türkiye,” a brand new safety alert posted on the U.S. “digital” Embassy Tehran web site on Monday said.
Protests have been spreading throughout the nation since late December. The primary marches happened in downtown Tehran, with individuals demonstrating in opposition to rising inflation and the falling worth of the nationwide foreign money, the rial.
Because the protests unfold, some have taken on a extra explicitly anti-government tone.
FILE – Protesters march on a bridge in Tehran, Iran, on Dec. 29, 2025. (Fars Information Company by way of AP, File)
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The theocratic authorities in Tehran — headed by Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — moved to tame the protests, with safety forces reportedly utilizing tear fuel and dwell ammunition to disperse gatherings.
A sustained nationwide web outage has been in place throughout the nation for a number of days. On-line monitoring group NetBlocks stated on Tuesday that the “nationwide web shutdown” had been ongoing for 108 hours.
The United Nations’ Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated in an announcement on Tuesday that a whole lot of individuals had been killed and hundreds arrested.
Turk stated he was “horrified by the mounting violence in opposition to protesters” and urged Iranian authorities to instantly halt all types of violence and repression, and restore full entry to web and telecommunications.
Khamenei and prime Iranian officers have stated they’re prepared to have interaction with the financial grievances of protesters, although have framed the unrest as pushed by “rioters” and “terrorists” sponsored by overseas nations — prime amongst them the U.S. and Israel — and supported by overseas infiltrators.
On Monday, Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi described the wave of protests as a “terrorist battle” whereas talking to overseas diplomats in Tehran.
Safety forces monitor a pro-government rally, Jan. 12, 2026, in Tehran, Iran.
Majid Saeedi/Getty Photographs
Additionally on Monday, state tv broadcast footage of pro-government rallies organized in different main cities.
The footage confirmed crowds waving Iranian flags in Tehran’s Revolution Sq.. State tv described the Tehran demonstration as an “Iranian rebellion in opposition to American-Zionist terrorism.”
Dissident figures overseas, in the meantime, have urged Iranians to take to the road and overthrow the federal government.
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi — who from his base within the U.S. has change into a outstanding critic of the Iranian authorities — on Monday appealed to Trump to behave in assist of the protesters.
“I’ve known as the folks to the streets to battle for his or her freedom and to overwhelm the safety forces with sheer numbers,” Pahlavi wrote on X. “Final evening they did that. Your risk to this felony regime has additionally saved the regime’s thugs at bay. However time is of the essence.”
“Please be ready to intervene to assist the folks of Iran,” Pahlavi added.
ABC Information’ Somayeh Malekian, Morgan Winsor, Meredith Deliso, Anne Flaherty, Mariam Khan, Othon Leyva, Britt Clennett and Joseph Simonetti contributed to this report.
