Iranian president orders publication of list of those killed in protests

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the public release of the names of all those killed in the recent unrest, according to a senior official in his administration.

Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy for Communications and Information at the President’s Office, said the president has instructed authorities to publish the names and basic details of all victims and those officially recognised as martyrs from the recent incidents, Mehr reports.

He added that a special mechanism has been established to review and verify any conflicting information or claims regarding the death toll. According to Tabatabaei, the measure is intended to address what he described as "fabricated claims" and "manipulated statistics", stressing that the truth would ultimately expose those spreading false information.

In late December 2025, widespread anti-government protests erupted across Iran, initially triggered by soaring inflation, rising food prices and the collapse of the national currency. The demonstrations quickly spread to dozens of cities, including Tehran, as public anger broadened to include complaints about economic mismanagement and political repression.

Human rights groups and international media have reported thousands of deaths linked to the security forces’ crackdown on protesters.  According to documents reviewed by Iran International’s Editorial Board, more than 36,500 people were killed by security forces during protests on January 8–9 alone, in what was described as the deadliest two-day protest massacre in history.

By Sabina Mammadli