Mullahs vs. Masses: Death Toll in Iran Unknown Because It’s So HIGH; Tens of Thousands
Iran is not teetering on the brink of crisis—it is deep inside one. The Islamic Republic is waging a silent war against its own population, executing, disappearing, and gunning down citizens at a pace that strips the word “repression” of all meaning. This is not law enforcement. It is not crowd control. It is state-sanctioned mass killing. As the regime accelerates its violence at home, the world debates deterrence abroad, missing the central truth: the greatest threat posed by Tehran is not what it might do to others, but what it is already doing to its own people, every single day.
40,000 reported deaths cited by the Washington Times
Check the NCRI Website for Updates:
Iran News in Brief – January 27, 2026 – NCRI
NCRI Speakers Available:
Mrs. Shirin Nariman: Former Political Prisoner in Iran
Zahra Amanpour: Lost Father, Fled Iran under great Danger
Homeira Hesami: Former Political Prisoner in Iran
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad: Iranian American
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian: Iranian American
Alireza Jafarzadeh: Deputy Director of NCRI
Recent reporting underscores a grim and accelerating reality inside Iran: the regime is no longer merely repressing dissent; it is engaging in what can only be described as mass murder. Executions, extrajudicial killings, and lethal crackdowns on protesters have surged, turning Iran into one of the world’s most prolific killing fields for its own citizens. These deaths are not isolated abuses or rogue actions by local authorities—they are the deliberate policy of a regime that survives through fear, terror, and bloodshed.
Iranians Being Slaughtered
At the same time, the region is witnessing an expanding U.S. military posture, reflecting Washington’s growing concern about Tehran’s destabilizing behavior and its broader regional ambitions. While deterrence may be necessary to prevent wider conflict, this moment presents a critical opportunity to clarify what genuine support for the Iranian people should—and should not—look like.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) argues that the answer is not foreign military intervention. Iranians do not want external forces entering their country only to dictate who governs them next. That model has failed repeatedly across the Middle East, breeding instability, resentment, and new forms of authoritarianism. What the Iranian people seek instead is moral clarity, political legitimacy, and public solidarity from the United States and its allies.
The NCRI’s objectives align squarely with those of the United States on the core issue: regime change in Iran. Where they diverge is on what comes after. The NCRI maintains that the future of Iran must be determined by Iranians themselves—free from the mullahs, but also free from foreign control or imposed leadership. This is not a call for isolationism; it is a call for respect for national sovereignty and democratic self-determination.
The Trump administration is uniquely positioned to make this distinction clear. By publicly condemning the regime’s mass killings, recognizing the Iranian people’s right to resist tyranny, and engaging politically with democratic opposition movements like the NCRI, the U.S. can apply meaningful pressure without firing a shot. Moral leadership, diplomatic isolation of the regime, and public support for Iran’s organized resistance would do more to weaken Tehran than another cycle of bombs and occupation.
This is a pivotal moment. The choice is not between war and appeasement, but between empowering a murderous regime or standing openly with the people it is killing. The NCRI is asking the United States to choose the latter—and to do so without claiming ownership of Iran’s future.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), heads what is widely regarded by Iranian dissidents and many international observers as the only fully formed, organized political coalition prepared to manage a post-regime transition.
Relevant Article(s):
U.S. Applies Sanctions, Bolsters Military Presence as Iran Killings Escalate
In Tribute to the Martyrs of the January 2026 Uprising…
Watch this Iranian woman explain better than anyone else can:
RyanMatta 🇺🇸 🦅 on X: “This is a great question for Patrick Bet David! https://t.co/D3wUTsJO1U” / X
OPTIONAL Q&A:
- What distinguishes the current wave of killings in Iran from previous crackdowns by the regime?
- How does the NCRI define “mass murder” in the context of Iran’s internal repression?
- Why does the NCRI oppose foreign military intervention, even if the U.S. supports regime change?
- What specific forms of moral, political, and public support does the NCRI want from the Trump administration?
- How can the U.S. effectively weaken the Iranian regime without imposing leadership on the country’s future?
- What role do ordinary Iranians play in shaping the outcome of the regime’s collapse?
- How does the NCRI respond to claims that outside involvement is necessary to ensure stability in post-regime Iran?
- Why is it critical for the world to recognize the killings in Iran as deliberate state-sponsored mass murder rather than isolated incidents?
ABOUT ZAHRA AMANPOUR…
Zahra Amanpour is a lifelong human rights advocate and a proud supporter of the Iranian Resistance movement. Born during the 1979 Iranian Revolution in Tehran, Zahra’s life has been defined by the struggle for freedom and justice. Her father, a prominent advocate with the MEK/PMOI, was killed in 1988—a summer marked by the mass killing of 30,000 political prisoners following the end of the Iran-Iraq war.
Raised by her mother within the Iranian Resistance community, Zahra grew up surrounded by the courage, clarity, and conviction of those who refused to be silenced. She draws deep inspiration from the many women who have led the movement for a free, secular, and democratic Iran.
As a Board Member of the Women’s Freedom Forum, Zahra works to amplify the voices of women fighting for their rights under repressive regimes and to shine a global light on their stories of resistance. Her work bridges continents, connecting the struggle for human rights in Iran with economic empowerment initiatives in the United States.
Zahra Amanpour – Iranian-American Women’s Rights Activist
ABOUT HOMEIRA HESAMI…
Homeira Hesami was born in 1966 in Iran. At age 16, she graduated from high school with honors but was denied acceptance to Iranian universities due to her political beliefs and activism. Her activism forced her to spend a significant period of time in prison in Iran as a teenager.
She was eventually able to immigrate to the United States, where she pursued her education further, obtaining both her Master’s from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Hesami has remained active in the political scene to help establish a free, democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Iran. Homeira was a member of the Iranian American Women’s Delegation that attended the World Conferences on Women in Beijing in 1995. She has spoken at the University of Virginia to educate students about the current plight of women in Iran.
Hesami has also spoken at The National Convention of Iranian Americans in Washington, D.C., as well as the Texas Convention of Iranian Leaders in Houston, TX. She is married with two children, and working as a medical physicist in Irving, Texas.
Homeira Hesami – U.S. Foundation for Liberty
ABOUT DR. RAMESH SEPEHRRAD…
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad is a leading Iranian American scholar, published author, cybersecurity executive, and human rights advocate, known for her tireless efforts to advance a non-nuclear, secular, and democratic republic in Iran. Her commitment to justice in Iran is deeply personal. As Chair of the Advisory Board of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), she plays a pivotal role in bipartisan majority of congressional advocacy, including support for various house resolutions, which endorses the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom and Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan.
ABOUT DR. KAZEM KAZEROUNIAN…
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut and served as Dean of the College of Engineering from 2012 to 2024.
A passionate advocate for democracy and human rights, Dr. Kazerounian is also an expert on Iran and the Middle East, particularly regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, and human rights situation in Iran. He has contributed widely through scholarly articles, invited talks, and media interviews on regional affairs and the democratic movement in Iran.
Nationally, he has held leadership roles with ASEE and ASME, shaping engineering policy and education. His honors include the ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Award, AIMBE Fellowship, and induction into the Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering.
An ASME Fellow, his research spans kinematics, robotics, and biomechanics. He has authored over 160 scholarly works and co-founded AcademicKeys.com and AcademicJournal.com, a professional platform and an online journal for academics.
ABOUT SHIRIN NARIMAN…
Shirin Nariman is a former political prisoner from Iran, human rights advocate, and entrepreneur.
At just 15 years old, during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she became involved in pro-democracy activities and supported the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Less than two years later, she was arrested for her activism—becoming one of the youngest political prisoners of her time and enduring severe torture in Evin Prison. Her case drew international attention and intervention from the Red Cross.
During her imprisonment, Shirin witnessed the regime’s brutality firsthand, including the executions of children, elderly women, and pregnant prisoners. After her release, she eventually sought refuge in the United States, where she has dedicated her life to advocating for human rights, women’s rights, and a free, democratic, non-nuclear Iran.
Shirin holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and has worked with leading wireless and financial corporations.
ABOUT ALIREZA JAFARZADEH…
Alireza Jafarzadeh serves as the Deputy Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He is also the author of The Iran Threat (Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2008).
A recognized expert on Iranian policy, Jafarzadeh has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. His groundbreaking work in 2002 and 2003 led to the discovery of key illicit nuclear sites in Iran, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Arak heavy water plant, the Kalaye Electric centrifuge testing facility near Tehran, and the Lashkar Ab’ad laser enrichment facility. These revelations prompted the first-ever inspections of Iranian nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Jafarzadeh is a frequent guest on major television and radio networks, including CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and France 24. His insights have also been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and The Hill.
CONTACT:
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Special Guests Publicity
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