Iran’s foreign minister says weeks of nationwide unrest is now under control even as a US based rights group reports a rising death toll and mass detentions under an information blackout.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told in Tehran on Monday, January 12, 2026 that authorities had brought the situation under control, while blaming the United States and Israel for the violence without providing evidence.
Iranian state media also promoted pro government rallies, projecting a show of strength after more than a fortnight of demonstrations.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US based organisation known as HRANA said at least 544 people had been killed during the unrest and more than 10,600 detained.
HRANA said its figure included 496 protesters and 48 security personnel.
Iran has not released an overall casualty figure and an ongoing telecommunications blackout has made it difficult to assess the scale of protests and the severity of the crackdown.
The demonstrations began on December 28 amid public anger over sharp price rises and the collapse of the rial then broadened into direct challenges to Iran’s clerical leadership.
The unrest has become the biggest test of the Islamic Republic since widespread protests in 2022 and comes as Iran’s economy remains under heavy sanctions tied to its nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump told reporters that Iran wanted to negotiate with the United States while saying his administration was considering very strong options in response to the crackdown.
Tehran has warned that any attack on Iran would trigger retaliation with parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf saying US bases and ships as well as Israel would be legitimate targets in the event of an assault.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was shocked by reports of violence and called for the rights to peaceful assembly and expression to be respected.
