LONDON — The dying toll from main anti-government protests in Iran reached 646 as of Monday, in response to knowledge revealed by the the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists Information Company (HRANA), over 16 days of unrest.
No less than 10,721 individuals have been arrested, HRANA stated, in protests which have been recorded in 606 places in 187 cities throughout all 31 Iranian provinces. Among the many useless are 505 protesters and 9 youngsters, the group reported.
The HRANA knowledge depends on the work of activists inside and out of doors the nation. ABC Information can not independently confirm these numbers. The Iranian authorities has not offered any dying tolls in the course of 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 have been amongst these killed within the protest wave thus far, together with one prosecutor.
This video seize taken on Jan. 13, 2026 from UGC photos posted on social media on Jan. 10, 2026 reveals clashes in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran.
-/UGC/AFP through 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 can pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all enterprise being completed with the USA of America,” Trump stated in a social media submit on Monday. “This Order is remaining and conclusive.”
In response to the announcement, Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated the place of Beijing — which is a key buying and selling associate for Tehran — “could be very clear — there aren’t any winners in a tariff conflict. China will firmly safeguard its legit rights and pursuits.”
China “helps Iran in sustaining nationwide stability,” she added. “We’ve all the time opposed interference in different nations’ inner affairs and the use or risk of power in worldwide relations.”
Trump’s nationwide safety staff are anticipated to fulfill on the White Home on Tuesday to debate his choices for intervention within the Islamic Republic.
President Donald Trump waves after arriving on Air Power 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 vitality or banking sectors.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt instructed reporters on Monday that army choices stay open to Trump.
The president, she stated, “is all the time maintaining 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 all the time the primary choice for the president.”
Citing “escalating” protests and elevated safety measures, the State Division additionally urged People to go away Iran.
“U.S. residents ought to count on continued web outages, plan different technique of communication, and, if protected to take action, think about 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 acknowledged.
Protests have been spreading throughout the nation since late December. The primary marches befell in downtown Tehran, with contributors demonstrating in opposition to rising inflation and the falling worth of the nationwide forex, 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 through 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 gasoline and stay 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 tons of of individuals had been killed and 1000’s arrested.
Turk stated he was “horrified by the mounting violence in opposition to protesters” and urged Iranian authorities to right away halt all types of violence and repression, and restore full entry to web and telecommunications.
Khamenei and high 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 international nations — prime amongst them the U.S. and Israel — and supported by international infiltrators.
On Monday, International Minister Abbas Araghchi described the wave of protests as a “terrorist conflict” whereas talking to international 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 develop into a distinguished critic of the Iranian authorities — on Monday appealed to Trump to behave in help of the protesters.
“I’ve known as the individuals 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 prison regime has additionally saved the regime’s thugs at bay. However time is of the essence.”
“Please be ready to intervene to assist the individuals 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.
