UN chief says he is ‘shocked’ by violence against protesters in Iran

A series of videos obtained by Vahid Online, an Iranian blogger and internet activist known for documenting protests, from Tehran’s Kahrizak forensic center show rows of bodies reportedly transported by pickup trucks after the January 8 crackdown on protests in Iran.

In one clip, an on-screen label refers to “photo number … out of 250,” suggesting the scale of fatalities.

Two eyewitnesses who visited Kahrizak in search of their loved ones told Iran International that they saw more than 400 bodies there. The most conservative estimates indicate that at least 2,000 people have been killed across Iran on January 8 and 9.

A doctor in the northern city of Rasht told Iran International that one hospital alone received at least 70 bodies. On Friday alone, 44 bodies were transferred to Madani Hospital in Karaj and 36 to Ghaem Hospital in Karaj. Medical sources in other cities also reported a high number of fatalities to Iran International.

Click here to read more.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed protests in Iran in separate calls on Sunday with the foreign ministers of Cyprus and France, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos,” Pigott said in a readout. “The two leaders discussed the United States’ counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean and the protests in Iran.”

In a separate call, Rubio spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. “The two leaders discussed protests in Iran, the recent US law enforcement operation in Venezuela, and diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” Pigott said.

Germany’s foreign minister said he would raise Iran’s protests and the government’s response in talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing Tehran’s leadership as having lost legitimacy.

“The people are protesting against this regime. A regime that shuts down the internet, that restricts the right to communication, has basically lost its legitimacy. They are afraid of their own population,” Johann Wadephul said in a video he posted on his Instagram account.

"This is a matter that concerns us very much. I will also talk about this with my colleague Marco Rubio in Washington,” Wadephul added.

A large crowd of protesters gathered in Tehran’s Punak neighborhood on Sunday night, chanting slogans including “Long live the Shah (King),” videos sent to Iran International show.

Iran’s exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi urged US President Donald Trump to back efforts to “liberate” Iran, amid nationwide anti-government protests in the country.

“Mr. President, you have already established your legacy as a man committed to peace and fighting evil forces. There is a reason why people in Iran are renaming streets after your name,” Pahlavi said, addressing Trump in an interview with Fox News.

“Let's hope that we can permanently seal this legacy by liberating Iran so that we and you can make Iran great again. Let's partner on this and have a better future for our countries and for our people,” he added.