Iran Protests: Accounts from the Front Lines of a Brutal Crackdown
Following a nationwide internet blackout, the Iranian regime has attempted to suppress information regarding the violent suppression of protests that began in January 2026. However, firsthand accounts and photographic evidence obtained by The guardian reveal a harrowing picture of state-sponsored violence and widespread civilian casualties. This article presents testimonies from protesters in Tehran and Isfahan, detailing the escalating brutality and the regime’s efforts to quell dissent.
The Escalation of Violence
The protests, initially sparked by economic grievances and political restrictions, quickly evolved into widespread calls for regime change. The iranian government responded with a severe crackdown, employing tear gas, live ammunition, and mass arrests. Reports indicate a significant death toll, with some estimates reaching 30,000 deaths, though self-reliant verification remains challenging due to restricted access and censorship.
“A Basiji said, ‘Go tell your prince to pull these pellets out of your body’” – Milad*, 23, Tehran
Milad, a 23-year-old resident of Tehran, described the initial stages of the protests as a collective awakening. “I was near Yaftabad on Thursday night [8 January] and saw people pouring into the streets, masked and waiting for a spark. Everyone was walking, from a 100-year-old man to a four-year-old kid whose parents were holding his hand.My friend called me and said, ‘Milad, this means revolution.’ I told him, ‘Yeah, brother, this is it.’”
The crowds swelled, and the atmosphere shifted from hopeful to increasingly hazardous. “We started chanting and kept going until we reached the main road. It was a huge crowd. Where we were on Thursday night, they didn’t shoot. It was just teargas and shots fired into the air.” Milad recounted scenes of solidarity, with citizens providing aid to one another amidst the chaos. “One guy was breaking stones and handing them to the young guys; another was making a fire and blowing into people’s eyes to ease the burning after teargas was fired. My own lungs were burning nonstop.”
The situation escalated the following night when protesters attacked a Basij (state-backed militia) base. Milad and his friends then went to Salsabil searching for his girlfriend. “There, with my own eyes, I saw them killing people with Kalashnikovs. Two girls came and knocked on our car window and said, ‘Please, for God’s sake, let us in, they’re killing everyone.’ We took them in. One of the girls got into the car and broke down crying. She said,‘They killed four boys right in front of my eyes.’”
Milad described the horrific aftermath in his neighborhood. “they killed a 16-year-old kid in our area, we all know him. His back, from top to bottom, was full of pellets and he was dead. While he was dying, the Basij were standing over him. ‘Help me,’ my friends say they heard him say, and a basiji replied, ‘Go tell your prince to come and pull these pellets out of your body.’”
“I was waiting for the next blow to hit my head” – Sara*, 18, Isfahan
Sara, an 18-year-old from Isfahan, recounted a terrifying experience of being trapped and assaulted by security forces. “The day before the call, at one of the gatherings, I got trapped in a place surrounded by officers. I heard one of them shout, ‘Hit them.’ They started firing pellets from the front and behind. When we tried to run away, they arrested people and beat them with batons.”
Sara was struck by a baton and saved by fellow protesters. “I panicked and fell to the ground in front of an officer. He hit my neck hard with a baton. I was waiting for the next blow to hit my head when suddenly a group of protesters – I don’t know how – pulled me up from the ground and saved me.”
She noted the widespread support for Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah, during the protests. “That night, the dominant chant was about Reza Pahlavi. On the day of the call, most of my Instagram followers posted stories and that’s how I realised the crowd was even larger than I had imagined.”
Sara described the escalating violence and the fear that gripped the city. “I didn’t participate on Friday, but from inside the house I continuously heard gunfire. I saw an officer chasing seven or eight young boys while firing a handgun at them. It was a shocking scene.”
“He only managed to say, ‘I’m burning,’ and died in his father’s arms” – Hamid*, 40, Tehran
Hamid, a 40-year-old from tehran, shared the devastating story of his nephew’s death. “I hadn’t gone into the middle of protests since 2009, but this time I saw everyone going; it felt shameful not to go, so I went.” His nephew was killed by a sniper while protesting with his father.
“As soon as my brother told me, I rushed to Karaj. The bullet tore through his collarbone, entered his body, pierced his heart and lungs, and exited the other side. He only managed to say, ‘I’m burning’, and died on the spot in his father’s arms.”
Hamid described the horrific scenes at local clinics. “When I got to the clinic, I saw 10 bodies lying on the ground. My mind snapped. At the other clinic in that area,they had stacked 200 bodies on top of each other; there was no space. I saw a six-year-old girl, a 70-year-old man. I saw a hundred boys whose moustaches hadn’t even come in yet. They’d all been shot in the neck, the head and the eyes. It’s like they were taking revenge because the kids are a bit reckless and brave. It was like they were shooting pigeons.”
Ongoing Repression and the Fight for Justice
The testimonies collected by The Guardian paint a grim picture of the Iranian government’s response to the protests. The use of lethal force, mass arrests, and censorship demonstrate a clear intent to suppress dissent and maintain control. While the immediate intensity of the protests may have subsided, the underlying grievances remain, and the demand for accountability and justice continues to grow.The international community faces increasing pressure to address the human rights violations occurring within Iran and to support the Iranian people in their pursuit of a more democratic future.
* Names have been changed to protect their identities