According to a report by The Times Of Israel on January 25, 2026, the New York Times said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered security forces on January 9 to “crush” nationwide protests “by any means necessary,” marking a decisive escalation in the state’s response to unrest.
The newspaper, citing two unnamed Iranian officials familiar with the directive, reported that commanders were instructed to “shoot to kill and to show no mercy” as demonstrations spread across multiple cities following days of mounting anger.
The account comes amid a wave of fresh claims that the death toll from the January 8-9 crackdown exceeded 30,000, a figure far higher than earlier estimates and one that underscores the scale of the violence deployed against civilians.
According to the report, the guidance was delivered after security units struggled to contain crowds, with authorities concluding that overwhelming force was required to restore control. The orders allegedly empowered units to act without restraint, suspending standard crowd-control rules and prioritizing rapid suppression.
Witnesses and activists have described widespread use of live ammunition, mass arrests, and the sealing off of neighborhoods, while communications disruptions limited independent verification. Hospitals were reportedly overwhelmed as casualties mounted, and families searched for missing relatives.
Iranian officials have not publicly acknowledged the alleged directive or confirmed casualty figures. State media have framed the events as necessary measures to counter unrest and maintain stability, rejecting external accounts as exaggerated or hostile.
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