At least 500 people have died in protests across Iran that began following the government’s announcement of economic reforms including subsidy cuts and fuel price increases.
The death toll, reported by multiple human rights organizations and verified through local sources, marks one of the deadliest episodes of civil unrest in Iran in recent years. Demonstrations that began Sunday in Tehran quickly spread to at least a dozen cities across the country.
“The violence has been severe and the casualties are mounting,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, speaking from New York. “We are receiving reports of live ammunition being used against protesters in multiple locations.”
The protests were triggered by government measures announced Friday that would reduce subsidies on essential goods and raise fuel prices by approximately 30 percent. Videos circulating on social media show massive crowds in public squares and confrontations between protesters and security forces.
Iranian state media has acknowledged “disturbances” in several cities but has not confirmed casualty figures. Internet access has been severely restricted in multiple regions, making independent verification of events difficult.
International organizations including Amnesty International have called for restraint and independent investigations into the use of force. The United Nations human rights office said it is monitoring the situation closely.
“We call on Iranian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and to conduct prompt, independent investigations into all deaths,” a UN spokesperson said in a statement Monday.
The economic reforms were reportedly introduced to address budget deficits and inflation that has affected Iran’s economy. Similar protests over fuel price increases in 2019 resulted in hundreds of deaths according to rights groups.
Communication blackouts in affected areas have made it difficult to assess the full scope of the unrest. Journalists and activists report that social media platforms remain blocked or heavily restricted.
The international community continues to monitor developments as the situation remains volatile.
