WANA (Feb 26) – In the aftermath of the unrest and terrorist incidents that took place in mid-January in Iran, several media outlets critical of the Islamic Republic of Iran launched what appeared to be a coordinated campaign to circulate high — and at times sharply conflicting — casualty figures. The issue quickly moved beyond Iran’s borders, evolving into a broader political and media confrontation on the international stage.

 

Among those amplifying the claims was Donald Trump, who alleged that 32,000 people had been killed during the “January incidents.” The figure itself differed from other numbers being reported, adding another layer of inconsistency to the debate.

 

In response, the Iranian government adopted a markedly different approach, publishing an official list of 3,117 individuals identified as martyrs and victims of the events, complete with names and national identification numbers. Officials presented the move as an effort toward transparency and documentation — one that, they argued, shifted the discussion from broad estimates to verifiable identities.

 

Speaking in Iran’s Mazandaran province, President Masoud Pezeshkian directly addressed the figures cited by the U.S. president. In pointed remarks, he stated: “The U.S. president has said that 32,000 people were killed in these incidents. We have published the names along with their national ID numbers. Anyone who has other names should publish them with evidence.”

 

He further emphasized that the government welcomes documented submissions for review, adding: “If there are names and evidence, present them so they can be examined. Simply stating numbers without documentation does not help public opinion.”

People attend the funeral of the security forces who were killed in the protests erupt over the collapse of the currency’s value in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Pezeshkian also drew a distinction between legitimate protest and violent acts, saying: “We accept protest in its true sense. But during these events, enemies were seeking regime change. Those who set mosques on fire and kill security forces are no longer protesters.”

 

Meanwhile, the London-based broadcaster Iran International at different points cited figures ranging from 12,000 to 40,000 fatalities. The outlet later claimed it possessed a list of 6,000 names undergoing “verification,” though that list has yet to be publicly released. Analysts note that the shifting numbers have weakened the coherence of the opposition narrative.

 

Similarly, the group Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) revised its estimate to approximately 7,000 deaths. However, many of the names published reportedly lacked complete identifying details, and those that were verifiable largely overlapped with the government’s official list.

 

This pattern has precedents. During the 2019 unrest in Iran, Reuters reported that 1,500 people had been killed — a figure that gained significant international traction. Later, during the presidency of Joe Biden, a U.S. government report cited 304 deaths, a number that Iranian officials also disputed. The wide discrepancies in these figures have fueled ongoing questions about methodology and sourcing.

 

Ultimately, the controversy surrounding casualty figures reflects more than a dispute over statistics. It underscores a wider struggle over narrative, legitimacy, and international perception — where numbers themselves become instruments in shaping global public opinion.