At the end of 2025, demonstrations broke out in several cities across Iran as nationwide protests led to the largest uprising in the country since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
In recent times, Iran has suffered several setbacks and a decline in regional influence, following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and Israel’s dismantling of large parts of Iran’s regional terror network.
President Ali Khamenei and senior officials ordered live ammunition to be used against demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of protesters—marking the largest massacres in Iran’s modern history.
The Iranian government shut down internet and mobile phone services in an attempt to prevent protesters from organizing and to stop information about the massacres from spreading. During the internet blackout on January 9, Iranian security forces used live ammunition against demonstrators, raising significant international concern over the country’s human rights situation. Thousands were also arrested during the ruthless crackdown.
At the end of January, Time, The Guardian, and Iran International reported that between 30,000 and 36,500 demonstrators were killed on January 8–9.
An independent investigative group should examine potential crimes against humanity committed by Iran, according to Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who reviews the regime’s human rights violations.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News in Australia, Mai Sato estimated that at least 5,000 civilians had been killed by the regime but added that she had heard reports from doctors in Iran suggesting the number of civilian deaths could be 20,000 or more.
Several Setbacks
Iran has recently suffered several setbacks and declining global influence in the Middle East, partly due to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and partly because Israel has eliminated large parts of the country’s regional terror network, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In June 2025, Israel bombed military and nuclear facilities in Iran in a surprise attack, taking out prominent military leaders and nuclear scientists and destroying the country’s air defences. Both Israel and the United States also attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Western countries suspect Iran of attempting to acquire a nuclear bomb, which Iran denies. However, the country has enriched uranium to levels with no peaceful application, prevented international inspectors from examining its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities.
On June 9, Iran rejected the Trump administration’s proposal for a new nuclear agreement. At the end of January, the Associated Press reported that satellite images suggested Iran was working to recover nuclear material from sites damaged in the summer airstrikes. Experts stated that Iran was investigating whether limited stockpiles of highly enriched uranium had “survived the attacks” by Israel and the United States.
Rising Tensions
The United States has increased its military presence in the Middle East in response to rising tensions with Iran. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the region, accompanied by additional air, naval, and missile defense forces. The aim was to deter regional instability caused by the massacres in Iran, prevent further killings of demonstrators, and prepare for potential attacks on Iran. Other objectives included preventing possible Iranian retaliation and ensuring that Iran agrees to a nuclear deal.
On February 6, the United States and Iran held indirect talks in Oman through Oman’s foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, Iran “attempted to prolong the negotiation process” in order to delay the possibility of a U.S. attack, while the United States “sought to secure an agreement as soon as possible.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out on February 8 that Tehran would ever give up uranium enrichment and insisted that the country would not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States. Araghchi said Tehran had little trust in Washington and even doubted whether the American side was serious about renewed negotiations, reported The Times of Israel.
Israeli defense officials have stated that Iran’s ballistic missile program constitutes an existential threat and that Jerusalem is prepared to act independently if necessary.
