A chilling report from TIME Magazine has surfaced, suggesting the death toll from Iran’s nationwide protests may be far higher than previously estimated. According to a Tehran-based physician, more than 200 people were killed in the capital alone on Thursday night as security forces allegedly used machine guns to disperse crowds.
The doctor, speaking to TIME on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, stated that just six hospitals in Tehran had recorded at least 217 protester deaths. Most of these victims were reportedly killed by live ammunition.
The “Information Fog” and Secret Body Removal
The report details a grim scene at medical facilities in the capital. The physician claimed that authorities began removing corpses from hospitals on Friday, a tactic often used by security forces to prevent public funerals from becoming new flashpoints for protest.
One of the deadliest incidents reported by TIME took place outside a police station in northern Tehran. The doctor alleged that security forces “sprayed machine gun fire” at a crowd, killing dozens on the spot. Activists separately corroborated this event, reporting that at least 30 people were shot in that single location.
Comparing the Data: Significant Discrepancies
The 217 deaths reported in just six Tehran hospitals represent a massive escalation compared to figures released by human rights monitoring groups. These discrepancies are often attributed to the “information fog” caused by the regime’s near-total shutdown of internet and phone lines since Thursday night.
- TIME Magazine Source: 217+ deaths (Tehran only, unconfirmed).
- Iran Human Rights (IHR): 45 confirmed deaths (Nationwide).
- HRANA: 63 documented deaths, including 49 identified civilians.
- Official State Media: 21 deaths (Attributed to “rioters”).
International Stakes and Domestic Demands
The surge in violence comes despite a direct warning from U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated earlier on Friday that the Iranian regime would “pay hell” if it continued to kill protesters.
What began on December 28, 2025, as a protest against an economy in freefall has now evolved into a demand for the total overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Protests have now been recorded in all 31 provinces, with demonstrators openly chanting “Death to the Dictator” and “Freedom.”
As the internet remains dark across much of the country, the international community is bracing for the possibility that the verified death toll will skyrocket once communication is restored.
Source: TIME Magazine.
