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A human rights organization has now increased the Iranian protest death toll to over 6,000 people, amid other reports putting the death toll at over 36,000.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Roughly three weeks ago, Iranians began taking to the streets to protest the country’s worsening economic conditions, sparked by the collapsing value of the national currency and soaring costs of living. What began as demonstrations led by shopkeepers and workers quickly escalated into a nationwide anti-government movement. In response, Iranian authorities labeled the unrest a foreign-instigated plot, accusing the United States and Israel of orchestrating the violence to destabilize the country. Despite the regime’s claims and efforts to suppress information through internet blackouts, the protests rapidly spread across multiple cities before appearing to die down.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says the confirmed death toll from Iran’s protest crackdown has hit 6,159 people. The group reports that its figure includes thousands of demonstrators, as well as government-affiliated forces, children, and civilians who were not participating in protests. HRANA emphasizes that its count is based only on deaths it can independently verify by name and location through its activist network inside Iran, meaning the true toll is likely higher since additional cases remain under investigation.

At the same time, far more dramatic estimates have emerged. A separate report cited by Iran International claims that more than 36,500 people may have been killed, including an alleged two-day surge of mass fatalities during protests on January 8 and 9. That figure is based on purported internal government documents, medical records, and witness accounts from hundreds of cities and towns, though it has not been independently verified. A medical working paper using hospital data and conservative extrapolation methods has also suggested nationwide deaths could exceed 30,000.

Pinning down accurate numbers has been difficult due to Iran’s internet blackout and communications restrictions, which began alongside the most intense phase of the crackdown. Activists, journalists, and medical workers say the shutdown has delayed or prevented documentation of deaths, forced reliance on satellite connections, and created conditions where intimidation and arrests further suppress reporting.

Iranian authorities, meanwhile, have offered a much lower official death toll of 3,117, a figure they have not updated publicly in days.

This comes as the US moves military assets into the region, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, with indications that the US is preparing to launch new strikes targeting Iran.