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By Staff Writer
More than 36,000 unarmed Iranian protesters calling for a change of government have in the Islamic state been shot dead by security forces, it has been alleged.
The killings are believed to have taken place between January 08 and 09 according to Iran International, a London-based Persian-language news channel covering political developments and human rights issues in Iran.
Details of the deaths have emerged at the same time as the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln accompanied by three warships arrived in the Middle East, bringing a renewed potential that President Donald Trump could opt to order airstrikes on Iran over its crackdown on protesters.
The carrier, along with three destroyers, “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability,” US Central Command said Monday on social media.
President Trump told reporters last week that the ships were sent to the region “just in case.” “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” he said.
The president had earlier threatened military action if Iran carried out mass executions of prisoners or killed peaceful demonstrators during a crackdown on protests that began in late December.
Iran dismissed the arrival of the US aircraft carrier strike group and said it remains prepared to defend itself. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that US warships would not weaken Iran’s defensive resolve.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has moved into a special underground shelter in Tehran after senior military and security officials assessed an increased risk of a US attack, according to two sources cited by Iran International. Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said Tehran was prepared for “any scenario,” including the possibility of an attack.
He added that informal messages had been exchanged between Iran’s foreign minister and US envoy Steve Witkoff, but these could not be described as negotiations. Baghaei rejected reports that Tehran had sought to delay possible US military action, calling the claims false.
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, said a US military strike would fail. “The enemy rattles its sabre and even sets a date for a military attack. If they attack again, they will not succeed,” he said.
Speaking to the Knesset on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would respond to any Iranian threat as he announced the return of the body of the last Israeli hostage from Gaza. “Any attempt by Iran to harm us will be met with a decisive response. It would be a very serious mistake — one mistake too many,” he said.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said threats by President Trump against Iran’s Supreme Leader were threats against Hezbollah. “Hezbollah is concerned with confronting Trump’s threat against Khamenei and considers it a threat against itself, and it has full authority to take whatever it deems appropriate to confront it,” Qassem said. He accused Iran’s adversaries of attempting to undermine the Islamic Republic through economic pressure and by inserting “saboteurs” into protests.
The United Arab Emirates said it would not allow its airspace, land, or territorial waters to be used for hostile military action against Iran. Afra Al Hameli, director of strategic communications at the UAE foreign ministry, said Abu Dhabi supported dialogue and de-escalation.
According to Iran International, security forces confronted demonstrators in more than 400 cities and towns. Most of the killings were attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its allied Basij militia. Proxy forces from Iraq and Syria were also reportedly used.
The outlet said it reviewed internal reports by the IRGC Intelligence Organisation submitted to senior state bodies, including the Supreme National Security Council, the Presidential Office, and parliament. A report presented to parliament on 21 January listed at least 27,500 deaths, with later assessments dated 22 and 24 January putting the toll at more than 36,500.
There has also been evidence of alleged extrajudicial executions. Doctors and nurses said security forces entered hospitals and shot wounded protesters in the head while they were receiving treatment. Images released from morgues reportedly showed bodies with medical tubes and monitoring equipment still attached. Medical staff described what they called “finishing shots” fired at wounded patients. If independently verified, such acts could constitute extrajudicial killings and potential crimes against humanity under international law.
Iran’s health ministry said nearly 13,000 surgical operations had been carried out on people wounded in the protests.
Several EU member states have called for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be placed on the European Union’s list of terrorist organisations. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said he would urge the EU to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. German lawmaker Norbert Roettgen said images from Iran show a massacre by the authorities.
Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia said passengers could cancel flights or receive vouchers, citing security risks linked to possible escalation.