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Iranian Red Crescent
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OrganisationIR

Iranian Red Crescent

Iran's national humanitarian society and Red Cross Movement member; named in OFAC's 1 May 2026 Hormuz toll alert.

The Iranian Red Crescent supplied the first confirmed casualty figures from inside Iran in 2026, but by 28 March Independent monitor Hengaw's count of the dead ran 3.4 times the official toll, and no agreed figure exists.

Last refreshed: 28 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Is the Iranian Red Crescent still a legitimate humanitarian body after the OFAC Hormuz alert?

Timeline for Iranian Red Crescent

#150 9 Jul

Mentioned in: Iran reports 14 killed in two nights of strikes

Iran Conflict 2026
#89 5 May

Mentioned in: Iran names a Hormuz toll authority

Iran Conflict 2026
#86 1 May

Named by OFAC as prohibited Hormuz toll payment channel

Iran Conflict 2026: OFAC issues GL-W on same Friday
#67 13 Apr

reported 960 people rescued from Tehran rubble

Iran Conflict 2026: Hengaw counts 125,630 structures damaged across Iran
#50 28 Mar

Documented civilian infrastructure struck

Iran Conflict 2026: One month in: three death counts diverge
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Background

The Iranian Red Crescent Society is Iran's national humanitarian organisation and its member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Founded in 1922, it runs emergency response, ambulance, blood and disaster-relief services across Iran's 31 provinces.

Since strikes on Iran began on 28 February 2026, the society has been a primary source of casualty and damage figures from inside the country. It first reported 148 girls aged 7 to 12 killed at the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, a toll later put at 165, and by 3 March it had confirmed 787 deaths nationwide. Other early tallies ran higher: Iran's Foundation of Martyrs put the toll for the war's first five days at 1,045, and the monitor HRANA reported 1,097 civilians killed by 4 March.

On 1 May 2026 the US Treasury named the Iranian Red Crescent Society as a channel that could not be used to pay Iran's Hormuz shipping tolls.

Key Issues
War casualties

The society's figures anchor the low end

The Iranian Red Crescent confirmed 787 deaths across Iran by 3 March, the war's first confirmed toll. By 22 March the Iranian Red Crescent had logged more than 81,000 civilian building units damaged, nine hospitals out of action and 300 health facilities hit across 26 of Iran's 31 provinces.

Later counts by others ran FAR higher. On 28 March, the war's one-month mark, Iran's official death toll stood at 1,937, against 6,530 dead counted by the monitor Hengaw on the same date. By 13 April Hengaw had logged 125,630 damaged structures across Iran, while the Iranian Red Crescent reported 960 people rescued from Tehran's rubble.

Common Questions
What is the Iranian Red Crescent?
The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRCS) is Iran's national humanitarian organisation, founded in 1922. A full member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it runs emergency response, disaster relief, and blood transfusion services across all 31 provinces.
How many people has the Iranian Red Crescent reported killed?
By the one-month mark on 28 March 2026, IRCS figures stood at 1,937 killed including 240 women and 212 children, with 24,800+ injured. Independent monitors Hengaw put the toll at 6,530 by Day 25, a ratio of roughly 3.4:1 against official figures.Source: Iranian Red Crescent / Hengaw
Why is the Iranian Red Crescent count lower than independent estimates?
IRCS counts only deaths confirmed through medical channels. The Foundation of Martyrs aggregates family-reported deaths, while Hengaw and HRANA use network-based reporting. Iran's internet blackout makes all Independent verification impossible inside the country.Source: IRCS / Foundation of Martyrs
How does the Iranian Red Crescent count compare to Hengaw?
At Day 25, IRCS reported approximately 1,937 killed against Hengaw's 6,530, a ratio of 3.4:1. The gap is consistent with the pattern during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, when official and Independent tallies diverged by a similar factor.Source: Hengaw
What did the Iranian Red Crescent say about the Minab school strike?
IRCS was the first organisation to report the Shajareh Tayyebeh School Strike in Minab on 1 March 2026, initially confirming 148 girls aged 7-12 killed. The toll was later revised upward to 165+. No Independent forensic investigation has been conducted or permitted.Source: Iranian Red Crescent
What is the Iranian Red Crescent Society?
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) is Iran's national humanitarian organisation, founded in 1922 and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It covers disaster response, ambulance services, blood banking, and emergency relief across Iran's 31 provinces.
Is the Iranian Red Crescent linked to the IRGC?
IRCS is a state-adjacent body operating under Iranian government authority, but is formally distinct from the IRGC. The 1 May 2026 OFAC alert names IRCS as a prohibited channel for Hormuz toll payments, alleging it has been used to move IRGC-controlled funds, without adding it to the SDN sanctions list.Source: OFAC sanctions alert, 1 May 2026
Why did OFAC name the Iranian Red Crescent in its sanctions alert?
OFAC's 1 May 2026 alert warned third parties against using IRCS as a payment channel for Hormuz strait toll revenues, alleging the organisation was being used to disguise IRGC-controlled fund flows. IRCS was not added to the SDN list; the alert is a preventive measure aimed at correspondent banks and intermediaries.Source: OFAC
How does the Iranian Red Crescent count casualties?
IRCS counts only deaths confirmed through medical channels, such as hospitals and morgues. This produces systematically lower figures than Independent monitors like Hengaw (which uses network-based reporting) and the Foundation of Martyrs (which aggregates family-reported deaths). At the one-month mark, the Hengaw count ran roughly 3.4 times the IRCS figure.Source: IRCS methodology; Hengaw reporting
Source Material
Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran — IFRC profileIranian Red Crescent Society — Official WebsiteRed Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran