Iran has descended into an organized silence whose aim is not only "security control" but also the concealment of the truth. Widespread internet shutdowns, paralysis of communications, unprecedented media closures, and intimidation of journalists and witnesses signify an effort to prevent the observation, documentation, and pursuit of a monumental and historical crime.

Iran International has recently attempted to assess the dimensions of the severe repression and the ruthless killing of people in the recent protests by receiving scattered and shocking reports and conducting professional fact-checking. In a country where the government deliberately restricts access to information, reaching an accurate assessment is a challenging task. Hasty announcements of casualty figures can lead to the distortion of reality and the magnitude of this great tragedy.

Since Sunday, the volume of evidence and overlapping narratives has reached a point where a relatively clear picture of the situation has emerged. The editorial board of Iran International has meticulously reviewed the information received from various sources, including the Supreme National Security Council, the Presidential Office, eyewitness accounts, and the families of the deceased over the past two days.

The results of these investigations indicate that:

- In the largest massacre in contemporary Iranian history, primarily over two consecutive nights, January 8 and 9, at least 12,000 people have been killed.
- This massacre is unprecedented in Iran's history in terms of geographical scope, intensity of violence, and the number of casualties within a short time frame.
- According to the received information, these citizens were primarily killed by the forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij.
- This massacre was entirely organized and not the result of "sporadic clashes" and "unplanned" actions.
- The information received indicates that this massacre was carried out under the orders of Ali Khamenei and with the approval of the heads of the three branches of government, along with a direct shooting order issued by the Supreme National Security Council. Many of the deceased were under 30 years old.

Initial estimates from the security institutions of the Islamic Republic indicate that at least 12,000 people have been killed in this nationwide massacre. In conditions of communication blockage and lack of direct access to information, reaching a final casualty figure requires more precise documentation. Recent years' experiences show that security institutions have consistently refrained from recording and announcing accurate casualty figures.