Protests in Iran, victims of the regime could number in the thousands. Von der Leyen: “Terrifying, new sanctions coming soon”

Brussels – The death toll from the protests in Iran continues to rise. After the regime blocked the internet, images and videos of the violence are once again circulating on social networks. The NGO Iran Human Rights has named 648 victims among the protesters. But the association  denounces that “at the same time, according to unverified sources, at least several hundred people may have been killed and, according to some estimates, more than 6,000.” The West is preparing a response: while US President Donald Trump is threatening 25 per cent tariffs on anyone trading with Tehran, the EU will “quickly put further sanctions on the table” against those responsible. 

Protests in urban centres across the country have been ongoing uninterrupted for 16 days. They were triggered by a collapse in the value of the rial, the national currency, but immediately turned into a decisive anti-government uprising. The Ayatollah regime, in place since 1979, is faltering more than ever and—as was the case during the protests three years ago following the killing of young Mahsa Amini—has decided to crack down on the demonstrations with bloodshed. 

In a statement released yesterday, Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, reported over 600 victims, including nine minors, thousands of injured people and over 10,000 arrests. “Due to the Internet blackout in place since 8 January and severe restrictions on access to information, it is extremely difficult to independently verify these reports,” it stressed. According to Reuters, a Tehran government official said that about 2,000 people, including members of the security forces, were killed during the unrest. But IHR itself mentioned “some estimates” indicating “more than 6,000 victims.”

The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and continued restriction of freedom.

The European Union has already listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety under its human rights sanctions regime.…

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen)
January 13, 2026 

“Terrifying” figures, commented European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a post on X, announcing that “in close cooperation with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, further sanctions against those responsible for the repression will be proposed quickly.” The EU has already included the entire Revolutionary Guard Corps in its sanctions regime for human rights violations in Iran, which now includes 230 individuals and 40 entities. 

Condemnation of Tehran has come from several European chancelleries: according to Friedrich Merz, the Ayatollah regime has reached its “last days and weeks”, while Emmanuel Macron believes that the Islamic Republic is “indiscriminately targeting Iranian women and men who are courageously demanding respect for their rights.” Palazzo Chigi said in a statement that it is following “with great concern the situation in Iran in recent days and the reports of numerous deaths among protesters.” The governments of Spain and Belgium have summoned the Iranian ambassadors to their respective countries. 

Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France to the country and showed them images of the violent actions carried out by the demonstrators. Meanwhile, yesterday, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose extra tariffs of 25 per cent on any country that trades with Iran. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not rule out air strikes among the “many, many options” Trump is considering, although “diplomacy is always the first option for the president.”