Iran has entered its sixteenth day of the popular uprising as the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced that the number of individuals killed by security forces has now exceeded 3,000.
Based on investigations drawing on local sources, hospitals, forensic medicine centers, and the families of those killed or disappeared across 195 cities, the PMOI reports that, as of January 11, at least 3,000 people were killed during #IranProtests2026.
This is a major crime…— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 12, 2026
According to the PMOI, the total number of martyrs from December 28 to January 11 spans across the entire country. These figures were compiled through extensive investigations involving local sources, hospitals, the Legal Medicine Organization, and the families of those killed or disappeared across 195 cities.
In an attempt to manage the narrative, the Iranian regime has been forced to display several bodies on state-run television. However, officials have falsely attributed these deaths to “rioters” and protesters. These broadcasts follow earlier reports of bodies being surreptitiously piled in large warehouses to conceal the true scale of the massacre.
Regime Disinformation and Diplomatic Spin
While the crackdown continues, the regime’s propaganda machine is working to shift blame. State-run television is currently broadcasting staged street displays involving government agents to portray the uprising as a violent movement.
Simultaneously, the regime’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, reportedly gathered foreign ambassadors to claim that the violence was initiated by the protesters themselves, a move widely seen as an attempt to stave off further international isolation.
Information Blackout and Internet Shutdown
NetBlocks, the independent internet monitoring organization, confirmed on Monday morning that the nationwide internet shutdown has now surpassed 84 hours.
⚠️ Update: #Iran has now been offline for 96 hours, limiting reporting and accountability over civilian deaths as Iranians protest and demand change; fixed-line internet, mobile data and calls are disabled, while other communication means are also increasingly being targeted ⌛️ pic.twitter.com/Dxe5OlUWqN
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 12, 2026
To counter this censorship, NetBlocks has proposed several emergency communication methods for Iranians, including:
- Shortwave and HAM radio
- Utilizing cell towers at border regions
- Starlink terminals
- Direct-to-Cell satellite communication
The regime’s primary objective in severing telecommunications is to prevent evidence of the crackdown from reaching the international community and to disrupt the coordination of protesters on the ground.
Escalating Domestic Repression
Reports from the capital indicate a new wave of domestic surveillance. Regime agents have begun a systematic campaign to confiscate satellite dishes from citizens’ homes in various districts of Tehran.
Furthermore, security forces are patrolling neighborhoods and commercial hubs to seize footage from private security cameras, aiming to identify and arrest participants in the demonstrations.
International Community Reacts to “National Uprising”
The European Union announced on Monday that it is considering new and tougher sanctions against the Iranian regime. A spokesperson for the bloc stated that the EU is prepared to take further action following the “violent crackdown on the people’s national uprising.”
Global Condemnation:
- Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared firm support for the Iranian people, stating, “We stand with those standing up for their human rights and dignity.” He characterized the regime as a “repressive” force both domestically and internationally.
- United Kingdom: Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, called for the immediate designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, adding his support for military strikes against the IRGC to assist the revolution’s victory.
- Travel Warnings: Malaysia, Japan, and New Zealand have all issued urgent advisories. Japan and New Zealand have urged their citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing the “deadly” nature of the ongoing protests.
European Parliament Bans Iranian Officials
In a historic move, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced an immediate ban on all Iranian diplomats and officials from entering European Parliament premises in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg.
“This move reflects the Parliament’s solidarity with the Iranian people,” Metsola stated, noting the decision was a direct response to the regime’s use of arbitrary detentions and communication shutdowns to silence the population.
