Anti-government protests continue to shake Iran, with the death toll rising sharply. At least 78 protesters have been killed during the past 14 days, according to estimates by HRANA, a US-based Iranian human rights group. Official figures from Iranian authorities have not yet been released.

HRANA said the situation has worsened steadily since the protests began. The demonstrations have spread across the country and show no signs of slowing.

More Than 100 Dead Since Protests Began

In a statement released on Saturday, HRANA said that at least 116 people have died since the unrest started. This total includes 38 members of the security forces. The group also noted that at least seven of the protesters who were killed were under the age of 18.

Along with the deaths, mass arrests have taken place. HRANA reported that at least 2,638 people have been detained during demonstrations held nationwide.

Protests Spread Across All Provinces

The protests have reached nearly every part of the country. HRANA said demonstrations were recorded in hundreds of locations.

“Based on aggregated data up to the end of the fourteenth day, 574 protest locations have been identified in 185 cities across all 31 provinces of the country,” the group said in a statement on Saturday.

The group clarified that the number is cumulative and includes all protest sites identified since the demonstrations began on December 28.

Cause of Deaths Raises Alarm

HRANA said its review of the deaths points to the use of heavy force by authorities.

“Examination of the causes of death shows that most victims were killed by live ammunition or pellet gunfire, predominantly from close range,” the HRANA news release said.

Eyewitness accounts have also supported these findings. Earlier, a witness told CNN that Iranian security forces struck one of her in-laws with pellets during a protest on Friday.

Internet Blackout Continues

The Iranian government has continued to restrict communication across the country. An internet blackout that began on Thursday evening remained in effect, even as clashes between protesters and security forces intensified.

Authorities cut off internet access and telephone lines soon after protests broke out in Tehran and several other major cities. Despite these measures, videos from inside Iran continued to appear online.

Experts say such blackouts are often used during violent crackdowns.

“National blackouts tend to be the regime’s go-to strategy when deadly force is about to get used against protesters,” Alp Toker, director of cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks, told CNN earlier this week, “with the goal being to prevent the spread of news of what’s happening on the ground, and also to limit international scrutiny.”

Economic Crisis Fuels Public Anger

The protests are driven largely by economic hardship. Many Iranians are struggling with a severe cost-of-living crisis and a collapsing currency.

Years of international sanctions have weakened Iran’s economy. More recently, the 12-day Iran-Israel war further damaged the country’s finances. The conflict also involved strikes by the United States, adding pressure to an already fragile economy.

Together, these factors have deepened public frustration and fueled the ongoing unrest.