Why did the IRGC Kill Iranian Civilians?
In January 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) launched a violent crackdown on 36,000 of its own civilians in response to the tens of thousands of people protesting against the regime beginning on December 28, 2025. This was part of their mission to protect the survival of Iran's ruling clerical system against mass protests, and following orders from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to dismantle the protests by any means necessary.
It saw thousands of Iranians across all 31 provinces take to the streets to demand a leadership change and the end of the IRGC's reign of terror.
Because the IRGC continues to perpetrate violence against its civilians, 36,000 innocent Iranians have been murdered and arrested for protesting against the IRGC, which has been in power for 47 years, along with extended internet blackouts lasting 88 days at one point.
In cities such as Khomeini Shahr and Najafabad, mass executions took place in a single night.
Entire neighborhoods were wiped out, as security forces utilized live ammunition against crowds, targeted shootings, and killing wounded protesters, all while shutting down internet and phone access.
The significance of the IRGC’s brutal crackdown lies in its willingness to use lethal force at any moment against its own citizens, following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's "shoot-to-kill" approach and showing no mercy against the protesters.
Although they are tasked with defending the Islamic Republic, they continue to label protesters as “terrorists,” leading to a resort to violence.
The events of January 2026 underscore the IRGC’s vicious approach to executing anyone who opposes the means to their objective.
Overall, as long as the IRGC remains in power, mass murders will continue to rain down on innocent civilians, who are praying for a change.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What happened during the crackdowns?
Ayatollah Khamenei directed security bodies to crush demonstrations by any means necessary, deploying the IRGC and Basij forces with heavy weaponry.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/world/middleeast/iran-how-crackdown-was-done.html
2) What is the government's response?
Iranian officials and diplomats have denied that security forces killed 30,000 of their own citizens.
3) What is the international reaction to these crackdowns?
Human Rights Watch has documented countrywide massacres and called for urgent international intervention and UN investigations.
Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/01/16/iran-growing-evidence-of-countrywide-massacres
Why it matters
The January 2026 crackdown exposed the IRGC’s willingness to use violence against its own people to maintain power. These continuing crackdowns deepen the crisis and further prove why international accountability and support for the Iranian people are needed.
Sources
- EU Set to List IRGC as Terror Group, The Jewish Chronicle, January 29, 2026, Jacob Jaffa
- Open Source Intel X Post, January 18, 2026
- Open Source Intel X Post, January 19, 2026
- Open Source Intel X Post, January 17, 2026
- China, Russia, North Korea & Pakistan Defend Iran's Slaughter - Shocking UN Debate Exposed, UN Watch, February 6, 2026
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