Fox News anchor Bret Baier directly confronted Iran’s foreign minister during a January 14, 2026, interview, pressing him to address reports that thousands of protesters have been killed during the regime’s violent crackdown on nationwide demonstrations.

“There are reports, sir, that anywhere from 2,500 to more than 12,000 protesters in various cities have been killed by the regime,” Baier said. “How many people have been killed?” The question referenced a wide range of estimates tied to the unrest that erupted on December 28, 2025, driven by economic hardship, political repression, and growing demands for systemic change.

Rather than provide a number, the Iranian foreign minister deflected, repeating the regime’s long-standing narrative that “terrorist elements” infiltrated otherwise peaceful demonstrations. He claimed these actors were responsible for killing both police officers and civilians in an effort to inflate casualty figures and provoke foreign intervention, particularly from the United States under President Donald Trump.

Human rights organizations and independent monitoring groups have disputed that characterization, reporting extensive evidence of security forces using live ammunition against demonstrators across multiple cities. Data compiled by activists indicate that thousands of civilians have been killed, with many more injured or detained, as authorities imposed internet blackouts and mass arrests to suppress information.

The exchange underscored the growing international scrutiny facing Tehran and highlighted the widening credibility gap between official Iranian statements and reports from human rights observers. Baier’s pointed questioning reflected increasing pressure on Iranian officials to publicly account for the scale of violence as global attention remains focused on the regime’s response to the uprising.