Iranian rapper describes 'bodies on streets' left as a warning to protesters

An Iranian rapper who took part in the country's protests has described "a massacre on the streets", suggesting foreign forces have been brought in to stamp out the protests.

Meraj Tehrani, who lives in the UK, told Sky News' international correspondent Alex Rossi he returned to Iran on business in early January, as demonstrations were erupting across the country.

Initially motivated by the country's ailing economy, the demonstrations have grown to challenge the ruling regime itself, leading to violence in the streets.

Iran latest: Khamenei admits thousands died in protests

On Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khameni acknowledged "several thousand people" had been killed in the protests.

In their latest figures, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency group said it had verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, from the demonstrations and subsequent crackdown.

Tehrani told Sky News: "At first I think the government didn't believe that so many people would come out, they were surprised."

He said the internet shut down quickly after "millions" of people turned out.

The musician said people from all walks of life are calling for change, describing the country as undergoing a complete transformation.

"I've never seen an Iranian mood like that," he said. "Everyone was united, everyone was hoping, 'This is the time'. Everyone was chanting together for the first time."

He said he saw non-lethal bullets and tear gas being used by authorities, but said the violence then escalated.

"On Friday evening [9 January], that's when the majority of the killing started," said Tehrani.

He said it was when the revolutionary guard came out, "that's when everything got serious", and it became "a massacre on the streets".

Describing a video he had seen of "bullets shooting and killing people", he said bodies were "left on the street for the others to look at, so they get panicked and scared and it is a lesson for them, 'You are next if you're coming out on the street'… If you come out and demonstrate again, you will be like this guy, this lady, this woman, this kid."

He also said "machine guns" were used to shoot protesters at random.

Tehrani said he believed foreign forces - including Iraqi militia, the Popular Mobilisation Forces in Iraq - have been brought in by the regime to stop the protests.

He said: "That is why they know how to fight, [shooting at] heads and chest, heads and chest."

He described the guards doing the killing as "different" to the normal guards.

He said: "One person's life matters in any nation, and thousands of people have been killed in a very aggressive way."

Describing the regime's days as numbered, maybe "less than two months", he said Iran felt let down by the international community, asking: "Where is the European Union? Where is Keir Starmer? I've never seen him put down any statement."

As for those who came out to protest after US President Donald Trump's statement of support on Tuesday, he said Iranians felt "a bit let down, but we have hope".

Tehrani said he received threatening messages on social media and said he would not be going back to Iran, adding: "If I go back, they will catch me and hang me."

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Despite that, he said he would be a voice for his people, saying: "The whole world needs to understand and hear us. How can we be terrorists? We just want a better life. We just want freedom."

In comments carried by Iranian state media, Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused "those linked to Israel and US" for causing "massive damages" and killing "several thousands" during unrest.

Earlier on X, Khamenei said he held President Trump responsible for the "casualties, damages and slander he has levelled against the Iranian nation" during protests.

He said the recent unrest was caused by "American sedition", the goal of which "is to swallow Iran".

"The Iranian nation broke the back of sedition; it must also break the back of the seditionists," he said.

"We are not leading the country to war, but we will not abandon the domestic and international criminals of American sedition either."

(c) Sky News 2026: Iranian rapper describes 'bodies on streets' left as a warning to protesters