What is HRANA, the US-based group behind Iran's death toll figures?

"Protests in Iran, which began in late December 2025 over the country's worsening economic conditions, have escalated into a broader challenge to its clerical leadership, which has been in power since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Tensions with the United States have mounted since US President Donald Trump suggested that Washington could militarily intervene in Iran if there was a crackdown on protesters. Critics of the Iranian government, primarily in the West, claim that thousands of people have died in the protests."

"On Wednesday night, Trump's tone softened when he said he had received assurances from Iran that the killings of protesters in Iran had stopped and that executions of detained demonstrators would not go ahead. But his earlier threats to attack Iran prompted Tehran to warn of retaliation and, on Wednesday, Qatar confirmed some personnel had been removed from the Al Udeid airbase, which hosts US armed forces, saying it was in response to current regional tensions."

"There have been some clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Iran, resulting in deaths. An ongoing internet blackout which entered its eighth day on Thursday has made it particularly difficult to track the actual number of deaths, according to watchdog NetBlocks. Iran has not released an official death toll, but authorities stated this week that more than 100 members of the security forces have been killed in clashes with protesters. Opposition activists said the toll is much higher and includes more than 1,000 protesters."

Protests began in late December 2025 over worsening economic conditions and escalated into a broader challenge to the clerical leadership in power since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Tensions rose after US President Donald Trump suggested Washington could militarily intervene if there was a crackdown on protesters, prompting Tehran to warn of retaliation. HRANA reported 2,615 deaths while Iranian state television put the figure at about 300 and authorities said more than 100 security personnel had died. Opposition activists claimed over 1,000 protesters killed. An internet blackout entering its eighth day hindered independent verification of casualties. Qatar confirmed removal of some personnel from Al Udeid airbase amid regional tensions.

Read at www.aljazeera.com