Iranian Activists Allege Mass Killings as US Warns of “Grave Consequences” Amid Nationwide Unrest
New York / Washington | January 16, 2026 (ANI)Iran is witnessing one of the most intense waves of unrest since the 1979 revolution, as nationwide protests driven by economic collapse and soaring living costs have escalated into a direct challenge to the Islamic Republic. Iranian activists, journalists, and US officials have accused the regime of mass killings, forced confessions, internet blackouts, and transnational repression, while Washington has imposed fresh sanctions and warned Tehran of “grave consequences” if violence continues.
Addressing a United Nations Security Council meeting convened at the request of the United States, Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad gave an emotional testimony describing widespread killings, disappearances, and repression across Iran. She said Iranians inside the country have been desperately reaching out to the outside world through limited satellite internet access, including Starlink, to determine whether their loved ones are alive.
“People are zooming in on images of body bags to see if their relatives are among the dead,” Alinejad said, adding that she has received urgent calls and messages from inside Iran pleading for international help.
Citing accounts from activists on the ground, Alinejad alleged that Iranian security forces are shooting unarmed protesters, finishing off the wounded in the streets, and storming hospitals to remove and kill injured civilians. She also claimed that families of victims are being forced to pay money to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones for burial.
Alinejad accused the Iranian regime of deliberately imposing an internet blackout on January 8, 2026, not to restore order but to conceal evidence of mass killings. “When a regime turns off the internet during mass killings, it is not restoring order—it is destroying evidence,” she said.
She further warned that Iran’s repression extends beyond its borders, accusing the Islamic Republic of conducting transnational repression with assistance from Russia, China, and Venezuela. Alinejad revealed that she has survived three assassination attempts and said court proceedings in New York have confirmed that individuals hired by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards sought to kill her on US soil.
“My only crime was echoing the voices of innocent people you killed,” she said, directly addressing Iran’s representative at the UN.
Iranian-American journalist Ahmad Batebi also addressed the Security Council, recounting his own imprisonment and torture after participating in student protests years earlier—experiences he said mirror what is currently unfolding in Iran. Batebi said he was sentenced to death, held in solitary confinement for two years, subjected to repeated torture and mock executions, and forced to falsely confess on state television that he was a spy for the United States, Israel, Mossad, and the CIA.
“They cut my body and put salt on my wounds to force a confession,” Batebi said, adding that similar forced confessions are still being broadcast daily on Iranian state media. He urged the international community to move beyond condemnation and provide tangible support to protesters, warning that abandoning them would lead to continued mass killings.
“You cannot fight a demonic regime with slogans alone,” he said. “The Iranian people need real help.”
Iranian authorities have dismissed the protests as “foreign-backed,” with officials claiming links to Israel and Western intelligence agencies. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said there was evidence connecting the violence to Mossad, citing remarks by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that referenced unrest across dozens of Iranian cities. Activists and rights groups have strongly rejected these claims.
Amid the escalating crisis, the United States announced new sanctions targeting Iranian security officials, including Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security, as well as Fardis Prison, where women detainees are reported to face cruel and degrading treatment. The US Treasury also sanctioned 18 individuals and entities linked to Iran’s shadow banking networks used to launder oil and petrochemical revenues.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump and his team are closely monitoring the situation and have warned Tehran that continued killings will trigger “grave consequences.” She said approximately 800 scheduled executions were halted following US pressure, and emphasized that “all options remain on the table.”
US Senator Lindsey Graham strongly condemned the Iranian leadership, accusing the ayatollah-led regime of having “American blood on its hands” and “slaughtering people in the streets.” He warned that any reluctance by US allies to confront Tehran could force a reassessment of future alliances.
According to figures cited by human rights groups, at least 2,677 deaths have been confirmed so far, with 1,693 additional cases under review. More than 2,600 people have suffered serious injuries, and over 19,000 individuals have been detained as protests enter their 19th consecutive day. International media estimates place the total death toll anywhere from under 3,000 to more than 12,000.
Despite internet restrictions and mass arrests, protests continue across multiple Iranian cities, with activists warning that the situation remains volatile and that time is running out for decisive international action. (ANI)
Key Takeaways
- The protests have evolved from economic grievances into an existential challenge to the Iranian regime
- Activists allege mass killings, hospital raids, and forced confessions
- Iran is accused of deliberately cutting internet access to conceal atrocities
- The US has imposed new sanctions and issued explicit warnings
- International concern is growing, but activists say words alone are no longer enough. (ANI)
895 words, 5 minutes read time.
About The Author
