Listen to the article
Iranian security forces have dramatically escalated their tactics against protesters, switching from pellet guns to live ammunition and heavy weaponry, according to a physician who recently fled the country after treating wounded demonstrators.
In an exclusive interview with the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), the doctor described a stark shift in the pattern of injuries he observed as protests that began on December 28 continued to spread across the Islamic Republic.
“Law enforcement forces were firing pellet shotguns that scatter pellets. During those days, I received five or six calls per day about people who had been hit by two pellets in the back or pellets to the head or scalp,” the doctor reported.
The situation deteriorated significantly around January 8, coinciding with government-imposed internet blackouts that cut off nationwide communications. “From about 8:10 to 8:20 pm, the sound of bullets, gunfire, screams, and sporadic explosions could be heard,” the doctor recounted of his hospital arrival that evening. “The situation was totally different. Shots from close range, injuries leading to death.”
Human rights organizations estimate the death toll has reached alarming levels, with some reports suggesting more than 3,000 people have been killed as security forces moved to suppress the demonstrations, according to Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst.
The protests initially erupted over economic grievances, including rising prices and inflation, before expanding into broader anti-government demonstrations challenging the Ayatollah-led regime. As the protests gained momentum, particularly in protest hubs like Isfahan, security forces appear to have dramatically intensified their response.
“The calls I received on my home phone for medical advice were no longer about pellet wounds,” the doctor explained. “People were saying they had been shot, with bullets entering one side of the body and exiting the other. Live ammunition.”
The physician described scenes of streets stained with blood, noting, “A large amount of blood, about a liter, had pooled in the gutter and blood trails extended for several meters.”
By January 9, the doctor reported hearing the distinctive sounds of military-grade weapons. “I heard automatic gunfire. I am familiar with weapons and can distinguish their sounds. I heard DShK heavy machine guns. I heard PK machine guns.” He added that “these weapons are in the possession of IRGC units — DShKs, PK machine guns, and Kalashnikovs. The trauma cases I saw were brutal, shoot-to-kill.”
The victims reportedly spanned all age groups, from teenagers to elderly men, with injuries so severe that many bodies were unrecognizable. “One colleague said that during a night shift, eight bodies were brought in with gunshot wounds to the face; their faces were unrecognizable. Many bodies are not identifiable at all,” the doctor claimed.
The escalating violence has drawn international attention, including from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly voiced support for the Iranian protesters. On Tuesday, Trump announced he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the crackdown ends, and urged Iranians to “take over” their institutions.
These developments represent a significant intensification in the Iranian government’s response to civil unrest. The use of military-grade weapons against civilian protesters marks a concerning escalation that has overwhelmed medical facilities and resulted in mass casualties.
The Iranian regime has previously employed internet blackouts during periods of unrest to limit information flow both within the country and to the outside world. This latest communications shutdown appears to have coincided with the most violent phase of the government’s crackdown, potentially to obscure the full extent of casualties from international observers.
As protests continue across the Islamic Republic, the international community faces mounting pressure to respond to what human rights advocates characterize as increasingly brutal tactics being used against Iranian civilians exercising their right to protest.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
12 Comments
The escalation to live ammunition is a shocking and unacceptable response to the protests. This will only serve to further inflame the situation and erode any remaining trust in the government. The authorities must show restraint and respect the rights of their citizens.
I agree, this is an extremely worrying turn of events. The international community must be united in its condemnation of these actions and apply sustained pressure on Iran to end the violence and respect human rights.
This is a deeply concerning development. The reports of shoot-to-kill orders are chilling and suggest the authorities are willing to go to extreme lengths to quell the protests. The world must pay close attention and hold Iran accountable.
Absolutely. The use of lethal force against peaceful protesters is a blatant violation of human rights. The international community must act swiftly to condemn these actions and demand an end to the violence.
The reports of shoot-to-kill orders are truly disturbing. This level of force against civilians exercising their right to protest is a grave violation of human rights. The Iranian government must be held accountable for these actions.
Absolutely. The world is watching, and the international community must take decisive action to condemn these atrocities and demand an immediate end to the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters.
It’s heartbreaking to see the government respond with such excessive force against its own citizens. The use of live ammunition is completely unjustified and shows a complete disregard for human life.
I agree, this is a tragic situation. The international community must take strong action to pressure the Iranian government to halt the violence and respect the rights of its people.
The shift from pellet guns to live ammunition suggests the government is determined to crush the protests at all costs, regardless of the human toll. This is a dangerous path that will only lead to more bloodshed and instability.
You’re right, this is a disturbing escalation. The world is watching, and Iran must be held responsible for these egregious human rights violations.
This is a concerning development. The use of live ammunition against civilians is a serious escalation and a violation of human rights. The authorities should respect the right to peaceful protest and refrain from disproportionate force.
Absolutely, the reports of shoot-to-kill orders are particularly alarming. The international community must strongly condemn these actions and hold the Iranian government accountable.