Death toll in Iran protests escalates hourly, warns US senator

US Senator Lindsey Graham commented on ongoing crackdowns against protesters in Iran, warning that the killing of peaceful demonstrators continues and casualties are rising by the hour.

Writing on his X page, Graham emphasised that every indication he had seen suggested the Iranian regime’s killing of protesters was still ongoing at full scale, Caliber.Az reports.

“The death toll is mounting by the hour. Hoping that help is on the way,” the senator noted.

Every indication that I’ve seen says that the Iranian regime’s killing of protestors is still very much in full swing.

The death toll is mounting by the hour.

Hoping that help is on the way.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 15, 2026

For nearly three weeks, Iran has witnessed large-scale protests, described by some as the largest in a decade. 

The unrest began after a sharp drop in the national currency but quickly escalated into widespread political protests calling for the government’s removal. 

Official and media reports indicate over 2,000 deaths, a toll also acknowledged by Vice President Ahmad Musavi. The US-based human rights group HRANA reported that fatalities have likely surpassed 2,500.

US media, citing multiple sources, including one inside Iran, reported that activist groups collecting information from hospitals and medical staff now estimate the death toll at a minimum of 12,000, with some estimates reaching 20,000 or more.

By Jeyhun Aghazada