Iran’s streets are relatively calm, but the calm is not normal. The markets are eerily empty of people, shops are largely closed, and security forces are patrolling. Checkpoints are set up at various locations, the Revolutionary Guard searches cars and passengers’ mobile phones. If you have footage of the protests or gunshot wounds, you will be arrested.
The streets bear scars in the form of burnt-out government buildings, slogans on the walls and dried pools of blood – if they haven’t been washed away. The prices of basic goods such as bread, butter and rice are rising faster than ever, and the Iranian currency continues its free fall.
The bloodbath was meticulously planned
The fact that the mass killings were unleashed at the same time across the country – with dozens of deaths even in small towns – suggests that the carnage was meticulously planned. Videos that have been released show security forces warning protesters that they have received orders to shoot. The order likely came from the highest level, possibly from Ali Khamenei himself.
Iranians say newly surfaced footage captures Saeed Rasti personally opening fire on protesters.
Rasti, a colonel from Alashtar in Lorestan Province, currently runs the Operations Center within the Intelligence Organisation of Tehran’s Greater Police Command. pic.twitter.com/zLWgexnoTm
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 29, 2026
With the return of the internet, the scale of violence is becoming increasingly clear. Time Magazine reports over 30,000 protesters killed in just two days, citing officials from the Iranian Ministry of Health. If confirmed, the massacre would rank among the largest and most effective known slaughters of unarmed protesters in human history – in terms of days.
“We can’t contact the family, but on Sunday the first phone call came from my mum. She cried the whole time and told us that they are terrified. The regime has killed so many children and young people. Everyone has lost someone or knows someone who has lost someone during the regime’s mass slaughter,” “Nana”, a Norwegian-Iraqi, told Document. She wishes to remain anonymous for the sake of her family in Iran.
No murder rate surprises anymore</h3
Members of the Iranian diaspora in Norway have sent us a facsimile of what has all the hallmarks of an official document from the Iranian regime. It shows an alleged internal IRGC report from Tehran’s Mohammad Rasul Allah Brigade, to a “Sardar Sar-tip Pasdar Hossein Pasdar” – which could be a fictitious name or a code name.
The document claims extremely high death tolls during the protests on 18-19 January “di” (Persian calendar, corresponding to 8-9 January in the Gregorian calendar).
Norwegian translation:
– Send this video only to people you know well!
To Sardar Sar-tip Pasdar Hossein Pasdar, Commander of Mohammad Rasul Allah Brigade, Tehran
From Mohammad Rasul, Allah Brigade CommandAssalamu alaikum
Referring to the meeting held in the presence of Dr Aydin Zovareh (possible code for a higher official), President of the National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, high representatives of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, IRGC intelligence, Basij, police and other security bodies, the number of those killed and injured on 18 and 19 Di was estimated to have reached 95,650. This includes both civilians and those associated with the regime.
A total of 650,000 casualties have been reported from various provinces. In addition, 10,489,90 (possible typo for 104,890) people have sought treatment for injuries.
According to health authorities and hospitals supervised by the IRGC, 101,202 people have suffered serious injuries from various types of weapons and are undergoing treatment.
This is an official report and must be treated as strictly confidential.
Servant of Allah Sardar Sar-tip Pasdar Hossein Pasdar
Commander of Mohammad Rasul Allah Brigade, Tehran
As of 29 January, the report has not been confirmed, and it must be noted that it may be part of an ongoing information war. But nothing surprises from the Islamic regime.
Rumours of the disintegration of the Islamic regime
Rumours of the Islamic regime’s dissolution have taken off during day 33 of the protests.
Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev has stated that “Russia hopes that the US and Israel will ensure the security of the Bushehr facility” and that they are ready to evacuate personnel “if necessary”. This was reported by TASS and has spread quickly on social media, where it has been interpreted as an “indirect confirmation” of an imminent or ongoing US-Israeli attack, but there is no confirmation of an attack.
Russia has just issued a statement effectively admitting that something big has happened:
We hope that the US and Israel will ensure the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
RUSSIA INDIRECTLY CONFIRMS IRAN STRIKES
Russia just put out a statement basically admitting something big went down:
“We hope that the United States and Israel will preserve the security of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.”
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) January 29, 2026
Shooting in the streets of Tehran
An audio recording reportedly uploaded recently from the Yaftabad neighbourhood of Tehran reports gunshot-like sounds.
🔴 BREAKING
Residents in Yaftabad neighbourhood of Tehran are reporting hearing very loud sounds.
This footage was uploaded moments ago. pic.twitter.com/yN8xCaadt5
— Throwback Iran (@Tarikh_football) January 29, 2026
An aircraft with the call sign IRAN07, reserved for the Iranian government, took off from Tehran and landed in Moscow early in the morning of 29 January.
The aircraft is used for VIP transport of high-ranking Iranian officers. This flight was unscheduled, which has sparked speculation that it may have been carrying top government officials to Russia during the ongoing crisis in Iran. The flight has been tracked by Flightradar24.
There is no official confirmation of the passengers – neither from Iran nor Russia. Russian media have made no mention of the arrival, and Iranian authorities are silent as oysters. Is someone fleeing for their life?</p
– An Iranian government plane from Tehran to Moscow has been tracked live. Speculation is rife as to which high-ranking regime figures were on board.
The silence from Tehran says more than any statement.
A last-minute Iranian government flight from Tehran to Moscow, tracked live. Speculation surrounds who was on board, including senior regime figures.
Silence from Tehran speaks louder than any statement. pic.twitter.com/YUs2oX5jS6
— Tousi TV (@TousiTVOfficial) January 30, 2026
– The first group of officials from the Islamic regime has just landed in Moscow. Putin has reportedly given up on the regime – signalling the green light for the fall of the regime and the return of Iran’s exiled Shah.
BREAKING: The first group of officials of the Islamist regime in Iran just landed in Moscow, fleeing Tehran to seek support and refuge. Putin is reportedly abandoning the regime, signalling a green light for the fall of the regime and the return of Iran’s exiled Shah @PahlaviReza. pic.twitter.com/Cg7YGdshmL
— Shayan X (@ShayanX0) January 29, 2026
– Allah’s earthly deputy
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem delivered a speech during an official “gathering in solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the dear Iranian people, against global arrogance (read: the United States).”
Qassem began by referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei as “Allah’s earthly deputy”:
“He is our protector, our leader, he legitimises our positions in the face of our religious obligations. We can neither shed our blood nor engage in our resistance without his religious authorisation – because blood is a sacred trust and he is the one who sets the general course of the entire ummah.
Slanting glance …
IRGC special forces train on defence against US attack:
IRGC special forces training to defend against the American attack 👇
Wait for it 🤣
pic.twitter.com/ePrqPOsihK— Dr Eli David (@DrEliDavid) January 29, 2026
Iran protests, day 32: January 2026, deadliest month in modern Iranian history