A human rights organization based in the United States said it has confirmed that more than 5,000 people were killed during recent protests in Iran, marking one of the deadliest crackdowns in the country’s recent history.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on Friday that it verified at least 5,002 deaths linked to the demonstrations, including 4,714 protesters, 42 minors, 207 members of the security forces and 39 bystanders. The group said it is still investigating an additional 9,787 potential deaths, suggesting the final toll could be significantly higher.

Monitoring efforts have been hampered by a near-total internet shutdown imposed by Iranian authorities since January 8, a move rights groups say is intended to suppress information flows and obstruct independent documentation of abuses.

Beyond the death toll, HRANA said at least 26,852 people have been arrested in connection with the protests, a figure that far exceeds the only official count released by Iranian authorities so far. T

he government, through the Martyrs and Veterans Foundation, has acknowledged 3,117 deaths, classifying 2,427 of them as “martyrs,” a category that includes security personnel and civilians deemed uninvolved.

Iranian officials argue that the remaining victims were “rioters” backed by the United States, a claim HRANA dismissed. The organization accused the regime of attempting to bolster its official narrative to justify the killings.

Another group, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), documented at least 3,428 protesters killed by security forces and warned that the final number could reach as high as 25,000.

The crisis has further strained relations between Tehran and Washington. US President Donald Trump threatened additional measures against Iran and claimed White House pressure had halted mass executions, a statement Iranian judicial authorities firmly denied.