Iran releases first official protest death toll at 3,117

Iranian state television has issued the first official death toll from the nationwide protests that erupted on December 28, saying at least 3,117 people were killed during the unrest.

The figure was announced on Wednesday night in a statement aired by state television and attributed to the Martyrs Foundation, a government-linked body that documents deaths related to national crises. According to the statement, 2,427 of those killed were civilians and members of the security forces , though it did not clarify the status or circumstances of the remaining deaths.

The official number is significantly lower than figures previously reported by independent rights groups. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said on Wednesday that at least 4,560 people had died in connection with the protests, citing documentation gathered through a network of activists inside Iran. That estimate is 1,443 higher than the tally released by Iranian authorities.

HRANA has previously been regarded by international media and rights organisations as a reliable source on protest-related casualties in Iran, relying on cross-verified reports from local contacts to confirm fatalities.

The Associated Press said it has been unable to independently verify either figure due to restrictions on reporting and limited access inside the country.

The protests, which began in late December, spread rapidly across multiple provinces and were met with a heavy security response, prompting international concern and calls for independent investigations into the violence.