Iran Protest Death Toll Surpasses 50 as Tehran Hospitals Reach Breaking Point

Hospitals have become the new front line. As protests across Iran enter their second week in January 2026, medical facilities in Tehran are reportedly overwhelmed by a surge of critically injured demonstrators.

Iran Protest Casualties 2026 and Medical Crisis

Medical staff at Farabi Hospital, the capital's primary eye specialist center, have declared a state of crisis. According to reports from the BBC, non-urgent surgeries have been suspended to accommodate patients with severe injuries, many allegedly caused by direct fire. In Shiraz, medics warned of a critical shortage of surgeons to treat gunshot wounds to the head and eyes.

The human cost is mounting rapidly. HRANA reported that at least 50 protesters and 15 security personnel have been killed since December 28. Furthermore, over 2,311 individuals have been detained. Despite the near-total internet blackout since Thursday, information continues to leak through satellite links like Starlink.

Geopolitical Fallout and Trump's Ultimatum

President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance, warning the Iranian leadership that the United States is watching closely. "You better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too," Trump stated on Friday. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remained defiant, labeling protesters as "destructive elements" and vowing no backdown for the Islamic Republic.