A recent report, compiled by a network of Iranian doctors and cited by various international media including the Hindustan Times, claims a staggering death toll of at least 16,500 to 18,000 people during Iran's latest wave of anti-government protests. The report, drawing figures from staff in eight major eye hospitals and 16 emergency departments across Iran, also indicates that approximately 330,000 to 360,000 individuals were injured. Professor Amir Parasta, an Iranian-German eye surgeon involved in the network, stated that military-grade weapons were used by authorities, resulting in widespread gunshot and shrapnel wounds to the head, neck, and chest, with many victims under the age of 30. The protests, which ignited around December 28, 2025, initially due to severe economic hardship and a plunging currency, quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to the clerical rule. The Iranian government responded with a harsh crackdown, including imposing internet blackouts to restrict communication and information flow. While the doctors' network presents a high estimate, other credible human rights organizations have reported different, though still significant, casualty figures. For instance, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, by mid-January 2026. Iranian state media, meanwhile, reported around 3,000 arrests in connection with the unrest. The considerable disparity in death tolls underscores the difficulty of obtaining accurate information amid the severe repression and communication blackouts, leading some to describe the events as a "massacre." The ongoing situation highlights profound human rights concerns within Iran.