NCRI-US Briefing in Washington Alleges Mass Killings in Iran’s January 2026 Crackdown

A Washington, D.C. press conference hosted on February 3, 2026 by the U.S. Representative Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-US) presented what organisers described as newly compiled details and internal documents related to Iran’s late-2025/early-2026 nationwide unrest and a violent crackdown in January 2026.

According to the NCRI-US briefing document, much of the information was gathered through networks affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). The document alleges that thousands were killed in multiple Iranian cities within days, that at least 50,000 people were arrested, and that the crackdown was ordered by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The NCRI-US said it has so far compiled the names of 2,257 people allegedly killed, including 152 children and 245 women, while claiming the overall death toll is higher. The document also cites statements attributed to Iranian officials describing the unrest as a severe threat to the state, and it describes a multi-tier security approach in which authorities moved from a “law-and-order” posture to an “armed security” designation beginning January 8, paired with broad internet and mobile shutdowns and the use of live ammunition.

The briefing further claims that Iranian authorities had prepared for renewed nationwide unrest through directives dating back to 2021, including guidance on when command shifts from police to the IRGC and when communications restrictions can be imposed. It also alleges that official structures were formed to label certain deaths as regime “martyrs” and frame responsibility for violence on opposition groups or foreign actors.

Alongside the allegations about the crackdown, the NCRI-US outlined what it calls a post-regime transition roadmap, including a provisional government, elections for a constituent assembly within six months, and a referendum on a new constitution, with commitments that include gender equality, separation of religion and state, and a non-nuclear republic.

Important context: These claims come from an opposition-aligned briefing and include references to “top secret” documents; they may be difficult to independently verify due to reporting constraints and information blackouts commonly reported during the unrest.