Iran using Iraqi militias to crush protets: report, death toll rises to 36

The death toll in violence surrounding protests in Iran has risen to at least 36 people, activists said Tuesday, as the demonstrations showed no signs of stopping. The figure came from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which said more than 1,200 people have been detained in the protests that have been ongoing for more than a week. According to information received by Iran International, Iranian-backed Iraqi militias began recruiting fighters four days ago to help the Islamic Republic’s forces suppress protests in Iran. So far, around 800 Iraqi Shiite militiamen have been deployed, almost all of them members of Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, Sayyid al-Shuhada and the Badr Organization. The information indicates that Iraqi government officials are aware of the mobilization of forces to assist Tehran. The transfer of these fighters is said to be taking place through the Shalamcheh, Chazabeh and Khosravi border crossings, under the cover of “pilgrimage trips to the holy shrine of Imam Reza i

On Tuesday, angry protesters conducted a sit-in at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, witnesses said, with security forces ultimately firing tear gas and dispersing demonstrators as the rest of the market shut down. The protest at the Grand Bazaar, the beating heart for centuries of both Iran’s economic and political life, represents the latest signal that the demonstrations are likely to continue as the country’s rial currency fell to a record low Tuesday.

Tenth day of anti-establishment protests in Iran

Video shows a group of protesters dispersed in Tehran

Location: https://t.co/aG1KGN8UE2pic.twitter.com/Hz0oeqng9o

— Ghoncheh Habibiazad | غنچه (@GhonchehAzad) January 6, 2026

Protesters in Iran have appealed directly to Donald Trump for protection according to new videos sent to Iran International on Tuesday after the US president twice warned Tehran not to kill demonstrators or face US intervention.