BBC Verify Live: Uncovering the Truth Behind Iran's Turbulent Protests
1. Tehran Mortuary Video Raises Alarms
A shocking video has surfaced, potentially revealing a grim scene at a Tehran mortuary with around 200 bodies. Published at 15:23 GMT, the video is one of six that have emerged in recent days, but only this one is dated, showing January 9th. The six-minute footage, filmed at the Tehran Forensic Diagnostic and Laboratory Center, has multiple edits and angles, displaying dozens of body bags and shrouded figures on the floor, with mourners crying and collapsing.
But here's where it gets controversial: unlike other videos, this one doesn't show the inside of the warehouse. Instead, it captures at least 21 body bags outside, and a total of 182 figures laid out. This video has sparked concerns about the scale of casualties in Iran's protests.
2. UK-Sanctioned Tankers in English Channel
Kayleen Devlin, BBC Verify senior journalist, reports that ten tankers sanctioned by the UK have been identified sailing through the English Channel. This update comes after earlier reports of two such tankers, including the White Condor I, flying under a false flag. Four of these ten tankers are carrying cargo, and three have Russian registration, according to their AIS location data.
3. Dead Bodies in Iran: A Grim Reality
Merlyn Thomas, BBC Verify correspondent, highlights the claims of the US-based human rights group HRANA, which states that nearly 500 protesters have been killed in Iran. Other activists believe the actual number could be much higher. Despite the government-imposed internet blackout, videos from Friday reveal rows of dead bodies in a Tehran mortuary. Friends and family members are seen identifying their loved ones. The footage is too graphic to show, but BBC Verify has counted at least 180 bodies in one mortuary alone.
4. Ukraine's Strike on Russian Oil Rigs
Emma Pengelly, BBC Verify journalist, investigates Ukraine's claims of attacking three Russian oil rigs in the Caspian Sea. The rigs belong to Lukoil, a major Russian oil corporation supporting President Putin's war efforts, according to the UK government. Drone footage released by Ukraine's Special Operations Forces shows drones approaching the platforms. One platform, Vladimir Filanovsky, located off the coast of Astrakhan, is visible in satellite imagery from December 25th, matching the drone footage. The other rigs, V.I. Grayfer and Yuri Korchagin, were also reportedly struck, but the drone footage cuts out before impact, and recent satellite images are unavailable for verification.
5. Mortuary Videos Expose Deadly Protests
Benedict Garman, Richard Irvine-Brown, and Shayan Sardarizadeh from BBC Verify analyze distressing videos from a mortuary near Kahrizak, Tehran Province. The Forensic Diagnostic and Laboratory Center, around 14 miles from Tehran, is verified by matching satellite images with the building's exterior and nearby structures. Videos show hundreds of people gathered around body bags on trolleys, with one warehouse appearing full. At least 50 body bags are visible in one clip. A state broadcaster video from Sunday shows a reporter inspecting body bags inside a windowless room, talking to mourners. These videos were not online before January 10th but may have been filmed earlier.
6. UK's Stance on Iran's IRGC
Anthony Reuben, BBC Verify senior journalist, explores the UK's stance on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While successive UK governments have been critical, Conservative Foreign Secretary James Cleverly imposed sanctions on the IRGC in 2022 and 2023. However, he stopped short of labeling the IRGC a terrorist organization, citing potential diplomatic consequences. The current Labour government commissioned a review, recommending a new terrorist designation for state actors like the IRGC. The government has committed to implementing these proposals, but legislation is needed, as the IRGC cannot be proscribed under current law.
7. Proscribing IRGC: A Controversial Debate
Anthony Reuben continues his analysis, discussing calls to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organization after the recent deadly protests. Proscription in the UK makes membership, support, or encouragement of a group illegal. The IRGC, founded in the 1970s to defend Iran's Islamic revolution, is now a powerful military force with regional links. While the US, Canada, and Australia have designated it a terrorist organization, the UK has not, sparking debate.
8. Sanctioned Tankers in English Channel Despite Warnings
Kayleen Devlin reports on BBC Verify's tracking of sanctioned oil tankers in the English Channel, despite UK ministers' warnings about shadow fleet vessels. Of the three identified tankers, MarineTraffic data shows Ariadne and White Condor I passing through the Channel. White Condor I, flying Aruba's flag, is south of Portsmouth, heading east. It unloaded cargo in Brazil in mid-December, having previously come from a Russian port. Ariadne, listed in Russia's maritime registry, follows behind, also carrying cargo. BBC Verify also identifies the US-sanctioned tanker Anastasiia in the Channel. The Ministry of Defence declines to comment on specific operational planning but affirms its priority to deter and disrupt the Russian shadow fleet.
9. 'Death to Khamenei' Chanted at Tehran Funeral
Ghoncheh Habibiazad and Richard Irvine-Brown from BBC Persian and BBC Verify uncover a protest at a Tehran mortuary funeral. The video, posted on Telegram, shows mourners at Behesht-Zahra Mortuary, crying for 'bravery' while carrying a casket. The mortuary is verified by matching images with Google Photos. Usually, the ceremony includes religious chants, but this video captures mourners chanting 'death to Khamenei', Iran's Supreme Leader.
10. Protesters Defy Blackout in Tehran Square
Ghoncheh Habibiazad, Richard Irvine-Brown, and Shayan Sardarizadeh verify a video filmed during an electrical blackout in Tehran's Punak Square. The video shows hundreds of protesters waving phones, with nearby logos helping identify the location. The internet shutdown makes timing difficult, but the video didn't appear online before Saturday. Two additional videos, posted on Sunday, show protesters in the square, with one claiming a 40-minute delay due to Starlink restrictions. These videos are among the earliest copies publicly available, as Iran threatens to jam Starlink.
11. Chaotic Scene on Iran Highway
Richard Irvine-Brown examines footage from anti-government protests in Iran. A video from the weekend shows protesters with barricades and fires on Vakil Abad Highway in Mashhad. Masked demonstrators use fireworks and green lasers against security forces. The footage, a series of edited clips, includes gunfire and explosions, with one clip showing a gun muzzle flash from a bridge.
12. BBC Verify Live's Monday Update
Adam Durbin, BBC Verify Live senior journalist, provides a morning update. The team has analyzed videos from Iran's mass demonstrations and the subsequent crackdown. At least 180 bodies have been counted in footage from a single Tehran morgue. Sanctioned oil tankers from the US and UK have been spotted in British waters, and their origins, ownership, and routes are being investigated. BBC Verify is also verifying Ukrainian claims of striking Russian oil platforms in the Caspian Sea, comparing drone footage with satellite imagery and fire-tracking data.
