2025–2026 Iranian protests

Economic crisis in Iran Beginning in 2024, Iran's economy experienced sharp inflation, a devalued currency, and an energy shortage, which culminated in widespread electricity and gas disruptions and apologies from president Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran has suffered declines in global influence, most notably following fall of the Assad regime in Syria, a major ally. The economic crisis was compounded by fears of renewed conflict after the June 2025 Twelve-Day War with Israel during which Iran's nuclear facilities were struck by the United States. Many Iranians feared a broader confrontation involving the US, which contributed to market instability. The country's state statistics centre reported an inflation rate of 42% in December 2025. Discontent has also been due to political corruption, with protesters accusing the government of authoritarianism and prioritising proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas over domestic needs. Iran faces challenges from ethnic secessionist movements from the Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Khuzestani Arabs, and Balochis and from the US and Israel. There were calls for the overthrow of the government, and distrust in the government's calls for dialogue, seeing them as self-serving and deceptive. The political character of the protests was marked by protesters chanting "Death to the Dictator" in reference to supreme leader Ali Khamenei, and their loss of faith in Pezeshkian, who was elected in 2024 on promises of good governance, but had overseen water and electricity cuts, while failing to deliver on the promise of lifting internet censorship. Iranian public faith in their government faded since the 2022 crackdown on the Woman, Life, Freedom movement during the Mahsa Amini protests. Protest slogans have shifted ideologically compared to the 2022 protests. Some new chants increasingly reflect monarchist sentiments. Already in June 2025, during the Twelve-Day War, the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi had intensified his political efforts and appealed to the international community to help the Iranian people force oust Ali Khamenei's theocratic rule while offering himself up as interim leader to take over running the country. In comparison to the Mahsa Amini protests (2022–2023) which were mainly fuelled by girls and women, young men played larger roles in later rounds of the 2025–2026 protests. Market traders were influential during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, helping to mobilise public support that ultimately led to the overthrow of the monarchy. Kurdish-majority regions in Iran have previously undergone severe repression stemming from the Amini protests in 2022, leading to fears of ethnic crackdowns from the government. This was in part due to Iran's accusing Kurdish opposition groups of having incited the 2022 protests. Despite this, Kurdish opposition groups have continued to call for solidarity in the nationwide protests and strikes. Iran has also repeatedly accused Kurdish militias from Iraq of attempting to incite unrest, including in the protests in 2026. Likewise, Balochi regions in Iran, long suffering from underdevelopment and political exclusion, have also previously been subject to violent crackdowns in the Amini protests. On 10 December 2025, Sunni-Balochi militant groups in Iran like the Jaysh al-Adl announced a merger into a united organisation called the Jebhe-ye Mobaarezin-e Mardomi (People's Fighters Front). In its coalition video, the union rejected Shia Islam-led clerical rule in the Islamic Republic. The same day, the group carried out an attack on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regional command, killing four of its soldiers and wounding three others; it announced responsibility for the attack the next day. == Protests ==

in Iran where protests had been reported as of 6 February 2026 highlighted in orange Initial bazaar 28 December 2025 On 28 December, groups of shopkeepers and merchants at Alaeddin Shopping Centre in Tehran and other commercial centres, including Charsou Mall, went on strike by closing their shops. Simultaneously, protest gatherings formed around these locations, and images and videos of widespread shop closures circulated on social media. Other people had joined in with the shopkeepers to protest against economic conditions at Jomhuri Street. Elsewhere, iron traders at Iran closed their shops in similar protests of the devalued currency. Around the onset of the protests, the value of the Iranian rial sunk to a record low of 1.45 million per US dollar before slightly recovering to 1.38 million. The rial had lost approximately 40 percent of its value since the Twelve-Day War, in part due to the sinking of oil revenue from US sanctions. The year on year inflation rate was up at 42.2 percent. The protests were first started by shopkeepers who sold electronic goods in central Tehran who shut down their stores. The protesters' main demands included stabilising exchange rates, addressing merchants' economic hardships, creating a predictable business environment, and preventing losses caused by market volatility. 29 December The protests continued into their second day on 29 December and expanded across various parts of Tehran, including the Grand Bazaar. Merchants and shopkeepers closed their businesses and gathered in the streets to protest the unprecedented collapse of the rial and sharp increases in currency and gold prices. Protesters voiced opposition to economic conditions and government management, citing declining purchasing power and rising living costs. Videos shared online showed continued gatherings around Lalehzar, Chaharsouq, and Jomhuri Street, with participants largely non-violent while conveying critical messages toward government economic policies. The merchants at the Grand Bazaar in Tehran joined the electronic goods shopkeepers who had started the protests the previous day. On the night of 29 December 2025, protests were reported in several regions across Iran, including Qeshm in the south, and Zanjan and Hamadan in the north. Demonstrators chanted slogans critical of the supreme leader, including "Death to the Dictator" on Qeshm Island and "Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be toppled this year" in Zanjan. Spread across Iran 30 December By the third day of protests, strikes and security measures had expanded, with shops closing in parts of Tehran such as Shoush and Molavi, as well as in Isfahan's Naqsh-e Jahan Square. Heavy security deployments were reported in Tehran, Mashhad, and at Khajeh Nasir University. Government responses included ordering temporary closures in 11 provinces, including Tehran province, due to cold weather and energy constraints. Security forces fired on protesters in Hamadan and deployed tear gas in Tehran and Malard. Demonstrations spread to additional cities, including Kermanshah, Shiraz, Yazd, and parts of Tehran such as Shadabad and Shush. Students from universities including Amirkabir, Beheshti, Khajeh Nasir, Sharif, Science and Culture and Tehran Science and Technology as well as Isfahan University of Technology and Yazd University joined rallies, chanting slogans such as "Death to the Dictator", "Death to Khamenei", "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, My Life for Iran", "We are all together", and "Seyyed Ali (Khamenei) will be toppled this year". President Masoud Pezeshkian called on the government to listen to citizens' demands. In response, a government spokesman said a Communication Group would be implemented. Pezeshkian's comments did not appear to have appeased the protesters, whose demands went beyond just economic stability. Human rights organisations and Gen Z student groups reported that 11 protesters were arrested in the Shoush Square area in Tehran and that five students were detained and four were later released. Another news report published that one student was severely injured at Tehran's Amirkabir University during a crackdown on a campus gathering by members of the Basij militia of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. At the same time, in Shirvan, working and retired teachers gathered in front of the Education Department. In Kermanshah, repressive forces have been deployed from Ferdowsi Square to the garage (about 8 kilometres), and the heavy presence of security forces is noticeable. One person named Mahdi Samavati was reported to have been killed outside the governor's office protest in Fasa. The semi-official Mehr News Agency quoted the governor of Fasa as denying this report. The Jerusalem Post stated on 31 December that Samavati (given name transcribed as Mehdi) was alive according to several sources, and that the rumour of Samavati's death was disinformation by the authorities aiming at frightening the protesters. Video recordings disseminated online and distributed by the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran depict severe confrontations between demonstrators and security forces in several cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kermanshah. Protester Amirhesam Khodayarifard was killed by a handgun shot to the head by an Iranian security force member in a protest in Kuhdasht, Lorestan province on 31 December. The government ordered nationwide total business shutdown in most of the country due to "cold weather", although some analysts say that the real intention is to stifle protests. The shutdown was applied to 21 out of Iran's 31 provinces. The government began threatening to crack down on protesters, Video footage records protesters like merchants, women's rights activists, and students commonly shouting the slogans "Death to the dictator" and "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life for Iran". 2026 1 January On the fifth day of protests, workers and employees of the central fruit and vegetable market in Tehran stopped working and joined the nationwide uprising by stopping the distribution cycle. Chanting the slogan, "You know with zeal, support support", the protesters called on marketers and the general public to strengthen the national will for change by expanding the strikes. Police officers used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. According to reports, Sarira Karimi, secretary of the faculty council of the Faculty of Law and Political Science and a member of the faculty council of the University of Tehran, who had been arrested on 31 December 2025, was released on 1 January 2026. Protesters were reported to have gathered in Marvdasht and chanted slogans against the Islamic Republic government, such as "This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali is overthrown". In Mashhad, protesters gathered at Saadi Metro Station, where riot police attempted to disperse the crowd with force. In Lorestan, home to the Lur minority, protesters were reported lighting fires in the streets while also chanting, "This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali is overthrown". Additional reports claim officers used live ammunition against protesters. In Lordegan County, gatherings took place in several parts of Lordegan City, including around the governor's office and the municipality square. According to these reports, as tensions escalated, some individuals attempted to damage government and bank buildings. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, and clashes were reported between the two sides. Several people were injured during the unrest, and unconfirmed reports suggested that multiple deaths had occurred. At least three people, including a boy, were killed in Lordegan. In Zahedan and Tehran, protests became active again. Funerals for protesters killed by the security forces were held in Fuladshahr, Kuhdasht, and Marvdasht, during which participants expressed opposition to the government, including chants of "Death to Khamenei". At the Kuhdasht funeral for Khodayarifard, Basij and IRGC forces were chased away from the funeral with stones and chants. Khodayarifard's father confirmed that his son was not a Basij member. In the Sadaf district of Hamadan province, protesters were seen setting fire to a Quran and attempting to attack a mosque before being stopped by authorities. 3 January Protests on 3 January were greater in geographic spread and numbers of protesters than on previous days, and the security presence was also greater. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded on 3 January by saying "We will not yield to the enemy", and stating that the "rioters must be put in their place." On the same day, the US State Department made a statement condemning the suppression of protesters' funerals. Cloudflare reported a 35% decrease in internet traffic in Iran, with Iranian internet users reporting frequent outages and slow connections. 4 January There was a heavy presence of security forces in the Grand Bazaar of Tehran. Donald Trump said that Iranian authorities would be "hit very hard" should additional protesters be killed. In Shiraz, videos showed the police assaulting and beating a man on the ground. When protesters threw projectiles at the police, officers moved toward them on motorcycles. Moments later, a protester poured gasoline on one officer setting him alight. 5 January On the ninth day, the protests continued throughout Iran. In Tehran's Bagh-e Sepahsalar neighbourhood, voices echoed chants of "Death to Khamenei". Near Tehran University, special forces stood on high alert, while reports of widespread strikes emerged from cities such as Marvdasht, where resistance pulsed through daily life. In Yasuj, security forces confronted the families of detainees gathered outside the governor's office. Reports say that the protests have reached the smaller towns of Saman, Sangsar, and Kushk, as part of the dissatisfaction of the Iranian people. In addition to the cities previously mentioned, protests were reported in several other locations across the country, including Saman in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Sangsar in Semnan Province, Zahedan, Fardis in Karaj, Meshkan in Fars Province, and Noorabad in Mamasani. Demonstrations were further documented in Qazvin, Hamedan, Ilam, Mashhad, Neyshabur, Abadeh, Bushehr, Babol, Bojnourd, Kushk in Isfahan Province, Shazand in Markazi Province, as well as the northern cities of Rasht and Sari. According to reports, protesters in these areas gathered in public spaces, chanting slogans and expressing dissatisfaction with the Khamenei government, reflecting the continued spread of nationwide unrest. The cities of Abdanan and Malekshahi, both in the Kurdish region of Iran, were abandoned by the country's security forces, leaving control of the cities to the protesters. A sit-in was conducted by protesters at the Grand Bazaar in Tehran. The sit-in was dispersed by security forces using tear gas. The total number of protest locations over the ten days was estimated by HRANA to be 285 locations in 88 cities across 27 provinces, with protests having taken place in 22 universities. The slogans of the protests continued to cover a wide range of economic, social and political grievances. 7 January According to HRANA, street gatherings, protests and strikes took place in 37 cities in 24 provinces, bringing the total since the beginning of the protests to 348 sites across 111 cities in 31 provinces. Ten universities joined the protest on 7 January, making a total of 45. The total number of televised forced confessions by arrestees rose to 40. Artists and teachers published statements supporting the protests and criticising the security forces' repression against protest participants. The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan called for a general strike in Iran, receiving support from six other Iranian Kurdish opposition parties. The authorities attempted to forcibly disperse the existing protests over economic conditions in the cities of western Iran (Iranian Kurdistan) ahead of the announced date, reportedly with the use of live ammunition. Internet blackout and protest intensification 8 January Protests escalated after 20:00, the time specified in Pahlavi's calls for demonstrations. Immediate telephone line and internet cuts occurred in cities, following a government practice before intense crackdowns. Starlink satellite internet service was unaffected, allowing users to bypass government-controlled internet blackouts. Crowds chanting in Tehran appeared to be mainly pro-Pahlavi. CBS News described the protests as reaching "a possible tipping point", and according to Euronews it represented "a new escalation in the protest movement". In Mashhad, a group of protesters had taken down and torn up a large flag of the Islamic Republic. Human rights organisation Hengaw claimed two IRGC Ground Forces members were killed during the protests in Kermanshah. A police officer in Malard County was killed from a stabbing after attempts to control unrest. Human rights groups verified a video showing "distressed family members" in Ghadir hospital in Tehran, looking through a body-pile of protesters killed by security forces. 9 January Protesters took to the streets on Friday night. Pahlavi asked Trump to support the protesters. The Economist reported that the protests had grown to be the biggest since 2009, while "some veteran Iran-watchers thought the protests were the biggest since the overthrow of the shah in 1979." NDTV 24x7 reported a viral trend of women lighting cigarettes to burn pictures of Khamenei in videos, gaining popularity on social media. Because burning Khamenei's image is illegal in Iran, observers have interpreted the videos as defiance, with the women rejecting state authority over their freedom. The trend was recorded by other news outlets, which similarly note rejection of strict religious and governmental standards imposed on women. Khamenei addressed the protests in a televised appearance. Khamenei called Trump "arrogant", saying his hands were stained with the blood of Iranians, and Trump would be overthrown like other arrogant leaders. Protesters set fire to buildings in Tehran, including mosques in the Gholhak and Sa'adat Abad neighbourhoods. Opposition media reported that clashes between protesters and security forces in Kermanshah Province killed at least 10 IRGC Kermanshah Nabi Akram Corps members. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, Iran's judiciary chief, stated that protesters would face severe punishment. US intelligence officers told Axios that their evaluation these protests were incapable of destabilising the regime was "being reassessed". Trump warned Iran's authorities against killing demonstrators while praising Iranians as "brave people". Airline flights from the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Turkey to Iranian cities were cancelled. Protests across all 31 provinces left millions in the streets, with at least 217 killed in Tehran's. A doctor in Nishapur stated that security forces killed "at least 30 people...among them were children", and "a 5-year-old child was shot while in their mother's arms." According to the doctor, security forces had shot bystanders as well. 10 January During the night, Tehran municipality workers were tasked to collect cartridge cases from the streets and deliver them to security forces. Despite the internet shutdown imposed by Islamic Republic authorities, thousands of protesters gathered in Tehran and throughout Iran overnight on 9–10 January, chanting "Death to Khamenei", and "Long live the shah". Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, attorney general of Iran, stated that protesters may be charged as the "enemy of God", or moharebeh, a crime prosecutable by death, according to CBS News. CBS also reported that state media reports of "no news of any gathering or chaos in Tehran and most provinces" were contradicted by a photo of demonstrations in Sa'adat Abad, and surveillance video from Fars News Agency in which protesters in Isfahan threw petrol bombs. The , associated with state media, reported that protesters killed three volunteer Basij militia of the IRGC in Gachsaran. Pahlavi called for protests to continue, while stating he was "preparing to return to my homeland" and protesters should seize city centres. Iranian state media reported that Army Lieutenant Amin Salimi was shot and killed "while on mission" in the Khavaran District of Tehran. Human rights activists acknowledged his death on 20 January. Protesters were engaged in violent conflict with government forces until dawn. A video from the Tehran Punak neighbourhood showed that as the government turned off street lights, the protesters set off fireworks and created a sea of light using their smartphones in defiance. An AI generated video, inspired by the actual protest and explicitly described as being AI-generated, was posted on Instagram and according to Deutsche Welle (DW) obtained 60 million views. The AI video was redistributed on other websites, with one redistributed copy receiving 750,000 views according to DW. Because of the lack of clear AI labelling in the redistributed video, DW described the redistributed, unlabelled copies as misinformation, using the word "fake". Videos showed explosions amid protests in Kerman and gunshots in Mashhad. Iran International reported that at least 2,000 protesters had been killed over the previous 48 hours amidst the internet blackout, as security forces escalated use of lethal force. 11 January Khamenei and senior Iranian officials said they were willing to talk to the protesters about economic issues, but characterised the unrest as incitement by "rioters" and said the protests were funded by foreign powers. State media reported that President Pezeshkian gave a speech accusing foreign "terrorists" of inciting the protests; Pezeshkian stated: "We are determined, and have decided, to resolve economic problems by any means possible" Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf gave a speech during a parliament session in which he warned of US military bases and regional ships and Israel would be subject to retaliation if Iran is attacked by the US in reference to Trump's threats. In the session, hardliner politicians went to the dais and shouted "Down with America". Demonstrators rallied in Paris, Vilnius, and London in solidarity with the protests in Iran and urged Western governments to support the Iranian people seeking freedom. The New York Times reported that Trump was briefed on military options on Iran but did not yet make a final decision. Forbes reported that the Iranian government successfully shut down the Starlink internet amidst the internet blackout. Other sources say Iran has successfully disrupted Starlink network connectivity nationwide, reporting that up to 80% of Starlink traffic was interrupted due to coordinated jamming operations. During a solidarity rally in Los Angeles on 11 January, a U-Haul truck was used to ram into protesters at Westwood. In Iran, fighters from the Balochi People's Fighters Front killed one Law Enforcement Command officer and injured another in an attack on an LEC patrol vehicle in Dashtiari County, Sistan and Baluchistan Province. 12 January In Tehran, a pro-government rally was held to counter the protests with tens of thousands of attendees in an attempt to project an air of normality. Videos posted on YouTube showed large crowds of people flying the Iranian flag and chanting Islamic slogans; however, reports from Iran International stated that images and videos were altered. President Masoud Pezeshkian was seen taking part in one rally. US president Donald Trump stated that Iran has reached out to the United States to negotiate its nuclear programme, following his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its violent crackdown on protesters. 13 January On 13 January, Iran International reported that at least 12,000 people had been killed, describing the massacre as the "largest killing in Iranian contemporary history". CBS News reported that 12,000 people have been killed, and possibly 20,000, as Iran's phone services were being restored, and new information was being released. When a reporter asked what he meant by "help is on its way", he replied, "You're going to have to figure that one out. I'm sorry." 14 January The Kurdistan Freedom Party assaulted the IRGC's headquarters in Kermanshah and, allegedly, according to the KFP's own claims, successfully infiltrated the headquarters and caused severe IRGC casualties. Armed Kurdish groups designated as terrorists by Turkey clashed with the IRGC while seeking to cross the border from Iraq and Turkey into Iran; the IRGC had received warning about their movements from Turkey. A video, analysed by BBC Verify and BBC Persian, showed, according to forensic examination, nearly 200 bodies scattered in the morgue, many with obvious wounds, including one victim who was only 16 years old. The Iran Human Rights Organisation (IHRNGO), based in Norway, said that at least 3,428 protesters were killed by Iranian security forces and at least 10,000 protesters were arrested during the peak of the unrest in Iran from 8 to 12 January. The head of Iran's judiciary stated that those arrested during the nationwide protests would be swiftly tried and executed. Washington has threatened military action in response to the crackdown. British and American troops withdrew from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The US stated that the withdrawal was a precautionary measure. Donald Trump said in the Oval Office that he had been informed that killings of protesters in Iran had ceased, and he believed that there were "no plans for executions". According to AFP, Iranian state television broadcast footage of Donald Trump's attempted assassination at the 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania rally, accompanied by the Persian message "This time, [the bullet] won't miss", which angered Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz and other close allies of President Trump. Nationwide curfew and crackdown 15 January The Iranian government imposed a nationwide curfew to prevent any protests and deployed security forces and tanks to patrol towns and cities across the nation. 16 January The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that 22,104 protesters had been arrested. In Zahedan, a small protest was reported after a Friday prayer sermon by Sunni cleric Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi, during which he condemned the Iranian government's response to the protests. In Tehran, the Friday prayer imam, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, called for the execution of detained protesters. A slight increase in internet activity to 2% was recorded by HRANA, despite the restrictions. On 17 January, Iran International reported that security forces were visiting homes and businesses to identify protesters and pressuring them to hand over CCTV footage, while also setting up checkpoints in public areas to detain citizens found with protest images on their phones. 18 January In the evening, a cyberattack targeted IRIB, the Iranian state broadcaster. Hackers hijacked the station's transmissions and aired footage showing exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, followed by a group of men wearing the uniform of the security forces calling for them to not "point your weapons at the people" and instead "join the nation for the freedom of Iran." In Geneva, senior official at Iran's permanent mission to the UN, Ali Reza Jeyrani Hokmabad, requested asylum from Switzerland, deciding not to return to Iran out of fear of the social upheaval there. Hokmabad is reportedly one of several Iranian diplomats who requested asylum from European countries due to the protests. Due to the ongoing curfew, some Iranians chanted anti-government slogans from the windows of their homes in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan. 21 January On 21 January, Iranian authorities announced that the protests had been suppressed following a severe crackdown. The Prosecutor-General of Iran Mohammad Movahedi Azad stated that the unrest had ended. February On 3 February, medical science students in Tabriz held an on-campus gathering, commemorating victims of the massacres. Similar gatherings were held in Mashhad and Shiraz. On 5 February, a multi-day sit-in by medical science students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences continued. The Shiraz students were protesting against the overall crackdown and in support of medical staff. Symbolic protests by the art community against official activities continued on 5 February. There were waves of withdrawals from the Fajr International Film Festival, including Amir Jadidi, who did not attend. By the "global day of action" on 14 February, the chanting of anti-government slogans during the night had become "one of the [ongoing] forms of continued protest" in the context of the increasing repression. Locations of nighttime slogan chanting included Karaj, Babol, the Chitgar Park area of Tehran, and Kermanshah. A street protest was held in Abdanan on 16 February, while during the 17 February protests in Abdanan, security forces reportedly fired on mourners. Another protest was held in Najafabad on 18 February, while security forces and vehicles were deployed across Mashhad on 18 February amid the protester memorials. Reignition of protests 21 February On 21 February, university students held several protests, including a sit-in at Shahid Beheshti University; a protest at Amirkabir University of Technology and a street blockage; a protest at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; and a protest at Sharif University of Technology which was attacked by Basij members. The new wave of protests – which broke out at the beginning of the new semester, coincided with the 40-day memorial of those killed in the previous round of protests – included chants calling Khamenei a "murderous leader" and calls for Reza Pahlavi to replace him. One student at the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran died, with Iranian state media stating it was due to a sudden health incident in class. adopting symbols of the Iranian monarchy. University administration and security forces stated that the protests were "illegal", conducted searches in the dormitories and arrested students suspected to be involved with the protests. 25 February Protests continued on 25 February, including 'Death to Khamenei' chants and the raising of the Lion and Sun flag at a university campus. Many Iranians inside Iran celebrated and rejoiced in the joint American-Israeli strikes on Iran. Footage also showed security forces opening fire on celebrants in the streets. Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians inside Iran to prepare to resume protests as the Islamic Republic "collapses", called on the military and security forces to side with the public rather than the ruling establishment, and described U.S. action against Iran as a "humanitarian intervention" while urging Donald Trump to avoid civilian harm. Footage showed security forces shooting at people chanting behind the windows of their homes. 2 March On 2 March, the Iranian women's football team refused to sing the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran prior to a Women's Asian Cup game against the South Korean team in Australia as a form of silent protest. 5 March On 5 March, the team was reportedly forced to sing the national anthem prior to the following game against Australia, with threats to the players' family members if they did not. 8 March After the team's exit from the tournament on 8 March, members of the team gave what appeared to be SOS hand signals from the bus as they were leaving, leading to protests and growing calls for Australia to offer the team refuge after the players were accused of being wartime traitors by Iranian state media for not singing the national anthem of the Islamic Republic in their opening game amid the Iran war. After Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new Supreme Leader on 8 March, chants of "Death to Mojtaba" were heard from the windows of homes. 10 March On 10 March, Pahlavi urged Iranians to stay in their homes while awaiting for his "final call", and called for nightly rooftop chants to continue as a sign of unity. The same day, the chief of the police threatened that any protester taking to the streets would be seen as an "enemy", and security forces had their "fingers on the trigger" against the protesters. 13 March On 13 March, the IRGC threatened a crackdown bigger than the one in January. 15 March On 15 March, residents of the Saadat Abad neighborhood of Tehran chanted numerous anti-government slogans including "Long live the Shah," "Death to the IRGC and Basij," and "Death to the Islamic Republic." 17 March During the 17 March Chaharshanbe Suri festivities ahead of the 20 March Nowruz holiday, Iranians across Iran defied orders from the authorities and celebrated the festivities, while footage showed gunshots from security forces dispersing crowds. Protests from home windows with chants of "Javid Shah" also continued. Crowds also cheered from their homes and celebrated with fireworks after news of Ali Larijani's death. 19 March A video circulated of a woman standing at the grave of a protester killed in January stating "By the blood of our comrades, we stand until the end," "Javid Shah," and "Long live Iran." On 19 March, the Islamic Republic executed three protesters. Images of Trump and Netanyahu were also seen on an Iranian family's haft-seen table during Nowruz. In his Nowruz message, Pahlavi stated that Iranians would "bury this Zahhak-like regime once and for all" and that "we will turn the new year into the year of victory for Iran's Lion and Sun revolution". In Trump's Nowruz message, he expressed hope that the Persian New Year would bring "peace and human dignity" while describing the ongoing war as a "righteous mission". Amir Avivi, CEO of the Israel Defense and Security Forum and a retired brigadier general, stated, "It's a matter of weeks until the US and Israel will assess that this regime is weak enough. And then there will be a call to the Iranian people to go to the streets and take over the country. And when they do that, above their heads, there will be Israeli drones and American capabilities defending them from the air — and any attempt to hit the Iranian people will be met by an attack." 21 March On 21 March, Iran's head of police announced daily 24-hour vehicle and motorcycle patrols in neighborhoods of Tehran and other cities across Iran. Footage also showed deployed armored vehicles and Basij forces across Iran. 22 March Security checkpoints and Basij patrols continued to be reported across Iran amid the ongoing internet blackout. 24 March Videos again showed security forces shooting at people chanting anti-government slogans from the windows of their apartments in Tehran. 25 March Window protests continued across apartment blocks in Tehran with protesters chanting "Death to Khamenei". 26 March Pictures of Ali Khamenei were set on fire at a protest in Gonabad. 29 March A resident in Tehran's Chitgar area is filmed saying "Thank you Trump" outside a police station destroyed by American airstrikes. Also on 29 March, footage showed Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces deployed again in Iran. Rights groups stated an 11-year-old was killed while on duty at a Tehran checkpoint, days after Iran allowed children as young as 12 years of age to join their war support. Amnesty International stated Iran's recruitment of children amounts to a war crime. Early April Footage continued to show foreign Shia militias, namely the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces and the Afghan Liwa Fatemiyoun, parading through streets in Iran. On 5 April, Trump stated that the Iranian people were "living in fear" and were "afraid that [the United States would] leave them in the middle of the war". After the 8 April ceasefire, some Iranians stated they feel a sense of abandonment and despair, while some described the truce as a missed opportunity for political change that would allow the authorities to intensify domestic repression. The internet blackout continued after the 8 April ceasefire, passing the 1,000-hour mark by 11 April. On 14 April, armed security forces continued to be deployed in the streets. Late April tiered Internet protests In late April, during the internet blackout, officials associated with president Masoud Pezeshkian and several Iranian citizens' associations and individuals protested against the imposition by IRGC-aligned authorities of tiered Internet access ( On 26 and 27 April, an organisation of Iranian nurses and another Iranian citizens' association, the Graphic Designers Society, refused the authorities' proposals that the two organisations obtain access for their members to an "Internet Pro" (tiered Internet) exception to the internet blackout, arguing that it would be unfair until all citizens had regular Internet access. The Graphics Designers Society stated that "Free and affordable access to the internet is the right of all people, and [the society] expect[s] authorities to restore this right equally for everyone to prevent further losses for graphic designers." A group of Tehran University of Medical Sciences students published a statement declaring equal access to the Internet to be part of the rights to education and science, stating that unequal access would constitute discrimination, and refusing to use the tiered Internet access. The Internet firm Andropay refused to use the tiered Internet access, stating that tiered access would create a "gap between content creators and their audience". Criticisms of the tiered access within Iran included that access for sellers was pointless if buyers didn't have access. On 30 April, Tehran Province Journalists' Association criticised the tiered access as bad for business, "against citizens' legal rights" and "unethical", called for it to be "removed from the government's agenda", and stated that "Access to free, high-quality and universal internet is not a luxury but a public right, and governments are responsible for ensuring it." According to Iran International, a common reason cited by Iranians for refusal to participate in the tiered access was an objection to unequal Internet access. The Reformists Front, an alliance of Iranian political parties, stated its objections to tiered Internet access on 30 April, asserted that equal access to the Internet beyond Iran is a citizens' right, and called for "people's access to stable, free and secure internetaccess [to] be restored immediately". ==Methods==

has become a widely used symbol of opposition to the Islamic Republic. Although its display inside Iran is strictly banned, protesters have increasingly begun waving it despite the serious risks involved. Protesters National strikes Nationwide strikes were conducted by businesses, stores, cafes, and workers as well as by online shops and social media influencers. Demonstrations Protests took the form of street demonstrations, chanting slogans, car honking, lighting fires, To avoid being identified and later arrested, many protesters wore masks and dark clothes, reminiscent of V for Vendetta. On 9 January 2026, X changed the Iran flag emoji from the Islamic Republic flag to the modern design of the Lion and Sun flag. • "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we are all together" () — a chant promoting unity and courage among protesters, chanted during nighttime gatherings in Isfahan. • "Freedom, freedom, freedom" (). • "Death to the oppressor, whether Shah or Rahbar" () — a general anti-Islamic Republic and anti-monarchy chant mainly by expressed by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Organisation As of 7 January, HRANA viewed the protests as being networked. IranWire viewed Generation Z Iranians as "one of the most visible and active groups" in the 2025–2026 protests, whose political views were strongly impacted by the Mahsa Amini protests of 2022–2023. == Government suppression methods ==

Internet blackouts On 8 January 2026, the government imposed significant restrictions on telephone and internet access to limit communication and the dissemination of information. Unlike the Twelve-Day War, there has not been an official internet shut down nationwide. However, connectivity was heavily disrupted in cities experiencing active demonstrations, making it difficult for citizens to send messages, share media, or organise further protests. These measures were widely seen as part of the authorities' efforts to suppress dissent and control the narrative around the unrest. The next day, on 9 January, it was reported by multiple media outlets that Iran, in a largely unprecedented measure, had activated military-grade jammers to disrupt civilian Starlink signals. Initially, only 30 percent of the media traffic was affected but it rose to 80 percent within several hours. as saying that "Iran's current nationwide blackout is a blunt instrument intended to crush dissent." On 14 January, reports emerged that the government was finalising their internet kill switch project, which was intended to cut the nation completely off from the global internet for extended periods; this plan was being coordinated with Huawei and China. By 16 January, after more than 200 hours of the blackout, NetBlocks reported a very slight internet connectivity uptick at 2%. Reports also indicated that the government was planning on permanently cutting internet access, with only vetted individuals being permitted filtered and censored access. On 17 January, it was reported that CCTV footage was being confiscated, and checkpoints were set up to detain citizens found with protest images on their phones. After targeting Iranians abroad with cybersecurity threats and phishing scams, it was reported on 19 January that the Iran-linked "Handala Hack" group was routing attacks via Starlink. On 20 January, it was reported by an investigative watchdog that pro-government editors were active during the crackdown across Wikipedia and other services in deleting content and sanitising articles related to the Islamic Republic's human rights record. The same day, it was also reported that Iranian authorities claimed they had cut off 40,000 Starlink satellite internet connections during the internet blackout. On 21 January, it was reported that the Islamic Republic was working on a state-run intranet amid the ongoing blackout, similar to that of North Korea. On 23 January, NetBlocks reported the blackout was entering its third week while the Iranian government was attempting to generate false traffic in order to manufacture the narrative of a wider restoration and normalcy. During the blackout, Iranian diaspora internet users ran applications to share part of their bandwidth in an attempt to help users inside Iran circumvent the blackout. Separately, an independent research group stated the Islamic Republic had coordinated a large social media influence operation aimed at shaping global narratives. The Guardian also reported the Islamic Republic used Chinese technology during the internet blackout and suppression of protests, such as facial recognition and surveillance tools. Recruitment of foreign militias The presence of state-sponsored foreign Shia militias, namely the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces, Arabic-speaking mercenaries, Lebanese Hezbollah, the Pakistani Liwa Zainabiyoun, and the Afghan Liwa Fatemiyoun, in suppressing protests was reported. Iran International reported that on 2 January 2026, Iraqi militias affiliated with the Iranian government recruited forces to assist Iranian security forces in suppressing protests in Iran. According to Iran International, "The reason behind this move by the Islamic Republic could be its concern that the Iranian police might not follow orders to attack unarmed, ordinary people, or simply because its forces are insufficient to stop protests in more than 100 cities". On 9 January 2026 the United States warned Iran against using foreign militias to crush protests. According to The Media Line, Iraqi Shiite militia members were recruited to help suppress Iranian protesters, receiving $600 each. By 11 January, more than 60 buses, each carrying about 50 people, had crossed the Iraq‑Iran border. On 14 January, a source told IHRNGO that the security forces in the Kurdish regions of Iran during the killings did not speak Persian, while in Karaj, an eyewitness said the forces spoke Arabic and took selfies with the bodies. Internal propaganda and coercion The Iranian government has been accused of using footage of protesters' bodies in morgues to demoralise future protests. Families trying to receive the bodies of their loved ones have oftentimes been forced to pay compensation for the bullets that killed their relatives. Reports stated that security forces and Revolutionary Guard members raided and intimidated the families of protesters who were killed, imposed restrictions on the retrieval and burial of bodies, and warned that families would be charged fees. Likewise, images and videos from the pro-government rallies were reported to have been altered. The Islamic Republic also pressured families of detainees to attend pro-government rallies planned for 22 Bahman (11 February), marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, telling them that only if they complied and attended would their detained relatives be spared execution or have their sentences reduced. as well as heavy DShK machine guns against protesters, with a Tehran doctor stating that security forces were "shooting to kill". A spokesperson from the Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre for Human Rights cited evidence that even when using "less lethal" weapons, security forces were deliberately shooting at the heads, eyes, genitals and vital organs of the protesters, so as to terrorise protesters by mutilating them and causing them permanent disability, Additionally, multiple testimonies have revealed Iranian security forces raiding hospitals to arrest, and in many cases execute, hospitalised protesters. with another similar assault being carried out by security forces on 6 January in Sina Hospital in Tehran. Iran Human Rights reported that in Rasht, security forces surrounded and trapped protesters inside the Rasht Bazaar, set it on fire, and killed people attempting to surrender or escape, while also "finishing off" wounded survivors in the streets and in hospitals. Footage showed security forces atop vehicles wearing hazmat suits and masks designed for hazardous chemical materials. On 23 January, chemical gas was reported to have been used on the crowds of protesters and escape routes, causing severe breathing problems, burning pain of the eyes, skin and lungs, vomiting blood, and sudden weakness and loss of movement. On 1 February, it was reported that the unknown substances that were being forcibly injected into the detainees had been linked to multiple deaths in custody. Concealment of deaths through mass graves and burials On 27 January, The Guardian reported that the Islamic Republic was concealing protest deaths through mass graves and burials. and the judiciary's Mizan news agency quoted him saying "I instruct the attorney general and prosecutors across the country to act in accordance with the law and with resolve against the rioters and those who support them(...) and to show no leniency or indulgence", Regarding the rapid trials and executions or protesters, Iran state television shared a video in which Mohseni-Ejei said "If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly, if it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn't have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast." On 10 January, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that the demands of protesters in the country are "completely fair", but "rioters" should "be put in their place." According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, as of 14 January 2026, over 18,400 people had been arrested. In its statement, the network detailed new orders from Khamenei instructing security forces "to deal harshly with protesters in recent gatherings" as well as separate statements from the Head of the Judiciary, the Attorney General of the country, and the Tehran Prosecutor calling for "extraordinary, out-of-order proceedings and the imposition of the most severe punishments in the cases of detained protesters." Executions of individuals allegedly involved in the protests continued during the 2026 Iran war. The Guardian reported on 2 March 2026 that the Iranian government has persisted in persecuting political prisoners and protest detainees, with hundreds reportedly executed or at risk of execution. Some people experience prolonged solitary confinement, torture, mock executions, and forced confessions, without access to lawyers. Executions during this period included those convicted of moharebeh, armed rebellion, or membership in opposition groups, with specific cases reported in March 2026. Families have frequently received little or contradictory information about their relatives' whereabouts. Meanwhile human rights groups note that the ongoing war has overshadowed these abuses even as the regime carries out death sentences and other severe punishments. On 1 April 2026, Iran's judiciary executed Amirhossein Hatami, a detainee convicted in connection with a fire at the "185 Mahmoud Kaveh" Basij base in Tehran during the protests. Reports indicate that he and other detainees were allegedly pushed into the base by armed individuals, after which the fire occurred, placing them at immediate risk. Torture and sexual violence On 18 January, The Guardian reported that a human rights group claimed detainees were subjected to torture and sexual assault while in custody. One of those detained was a minor. According to these accounts, security personnel subjected the detainees to sexualised physical mistreatment during their transfer, including beatings and the use of batons through their clothing and over their anal areas. == Casualties ==

Reporting on casualties from the 2026 protests has varied widely, from several thousand to around 30,000 deaths, On 21 January, the Iranian government issued a death toll of 3,117 people, of which 2,427 were "civilians and security forces", according to Associated Press, which described the Iranian government as having a track record of undercounting deaths during protests. Casualties, arrests, executions, and injured protesters Human Rights Watch reported that the Iranian government has been carrying out arbitrary arrests of tens of thousands of protesters, and has subjected them to torture and mistreatments. 31 December On 31 December 2025, during a protest in Fuladshahr, Dariush Ansari Bakhtiariwand was shot with a Kalashnikov rifle by security forces. He died before reaching medical care. While participating in a protest in Kuhdasht on 31 December, Amirhesam Khodayarifard (reported to be 21, Government media stated that protesters had been throwing rocks at security forces, and that Khodayarafid was killed after the rocks had been thrown. Governmental media, including Mehr News Agency, 1 January Two protesters, Ahmad Jalil, 21, and Sajjad Valamanesh, 28, were killed in Lordegan on 1 January 2026. Both had been shot by security forces and died later from their injuries. On the evening of 1 January, two men and a teenage boy, Shayan Asadollahi, 30, Vahab Musavi, and Mostafa, 15, residents of Azna (in Lorestan province) were killed by gunfire from security forces. The IRGC-aligned Fars News Agency stated that the protesters had either tried to attack a police station or had tried to disarm the security forces. Khodadad Shirvani, 33, a Marvdasht resident, was shot with shotgun pellets by security forces on the same evening in Marvdasht. He died after being transferred to a hospital. In Nurabad (Lorestan province), Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli, 35, was lethally shot the same evening with three bullets (one to his heart) by security forces during a protest in Ba'ath Square in Nurabad. Security forces and the Imam of Friday Prayer pressured Abdoli's family to say that he was a Basij member and that he had been shot by "enemy forces". 2 January On 2 January, a 42-year-old protester, Ali Azizi Jafarabadi, a Kurdish man from Harsin County was shot dead by security forces in Harsin. 3 January On 3 January, the total number of arrested protesters had increased to 132 according to Hengaw or 582 according to HRANA. Iran International estimated the death count of protesters to be at least eight, the number of locations to be 113 locations in 46 cities across 22 provinces, with at least 44 people shot and wounded by live ammunition or pellet guns fired by Iranian security forces. Four protesters were shot dead with "military-grade" weapons by IRGC members at protests in Malekshahi County in Ilam province; forty were injured and many taken to hospital. 4 January By the early morning of 4 January, Iran International reported the death toll from the protests to have risen to at least 16. HRANA estimated that since the beginning of the protests there had been 990 arrests and 51 cases of injuries to protesters, mostly from pellet and plastic bullets. Iranian authorities claimed to have arrested a Mossad agent partaking in the protests, with the agent allegedly confessed to being recruited, trained by, and continuing communication with Mossad, and said that Mossad handlers told him to go to people's residences, but was later instructed to move his "operations" to local marketplaces. 6 January On 6 January, a total of 2,076 protesters had been arrested, and at least 34 protesters and 2 police officers had been killed, according to HRANA. 7 January HRANA estimated 140 new arrests of protesters or identifications of previously arrested protesters, making a total of 2,217, including 165 minors and 46 university students. HRANA counted at total since the beginning of the protests as 38 deaths, including 29 adult protesters, 5 minor protesters, and 4 security officers. 8 January According to reports, a massacre occurred in Fardis on 8 January 2026, where troops reportedly killed 50 protesters with a machine gun. 9 January On 9 January, HRANA estimated that a total of 2,311 protesters had been arrested and at least 65 were dead. Time reported that they were in contact with a Tehran-based doctor who informed them that over 217 protester deaths had been recorded across six hospitals in the city, while Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi warned that authorities might carry out a massacre under the cover of the widespread internet blackout. Reports from two hospitals in Rasht and Tehran indicate overall 110 dead bodies being transferred to these two hospitals during 8 and 9 January. Some wounded people had military-grade bullets in head and neck, indicating that the shootings were intended to kill. 10 January Amidst the internet blackout during the protests, Iran International stated their most conservative estimates indicated that at least 2,000 people had been killed by government forces over the past 48 hours alone. The Centre for Human Rights in Iran warned that a "massacre is unfolding." It said hundreds of protesters had been killed since the government cut off internet access, and security forces, as in the past, shot people in the eyes with metal pellets and rubber bullets. It reported that hospitals were overwhelmed, and that casualties continue to rise. Iranian state media reported that Artesh First Lieutenant Amin Salimi was shot and killed "while on mission" in Khavaran neighbourhood, eastern Tehran. US-based human rights activists acknowledged his death on 20 January. The People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran reported that more than 3,000 people had been killed in the protests by 11 January. Their figures, based on local sources, hospitals, and families, show the government even displayed some bodies on state TV, falsely blaming protesters for their deaths. By 11 January, Time reported that, starting with reports from a handful of Tehran hospitals, an informal, expatriate group of academics and professionals calculated that protester deaths could have reached 6,000 through Saturday the 10th. 12 January On 12 January, CNN reported that given the government's internet shutdown and the slow trickle of information emerging from Iran, the full scale of casualties remains unclear. 13 January On 13 January, Iran International reported that at least 12,000 people had been killed, describing the massacre as the "largest killing in Iranian contemporary history". While confirmed figures from HRANA stood at approximately 2,000-2,500 deaths, CBS News cited sources within Iran claiming the total death toll could potentially reach 20,000. 17 January On 17 January, The Sunday Times reported that "at least 16,500-18,000" people had been killed, and 330,000 had been injured. 18 January On 18 January, HRANA stated that 24,669 protesters had been detained, at least 25 children under 18 years of age had been killed during the protests, and 145 forced confessions had been broadcast. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) added that 3,919 people were verified to have been killed during the protests, and a further 8,949 additional deaths were still under investigation. Iran International reported detainees were being injected with unknown chemical substances. According to the report, more than 95% of the victims were killed on 8 and 9 January amid the internet blackout. Independent human rights organisations challenged the official casualty figures. HRANA reported that the death toll had surpassed 4,900, based on information compiled from hospital records, eyewitness testimony, and regional monitoring networks, and warned that the true number of fatalities was likely higher due to severe reporting constraints. HRANA later updated its data to state that the verified total had reached at least 4,519 confirmed deaths with an additional 9,049 cases under review. On the same day, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran stated the number of civilians killed may exceeded 20,000, citing information received from civil society sources and the cumulative scale of the crackdown. Separately, the U.S. television network NewsNation reported substantially higher estimates, suggesting the death toll could be closer to 30,000. HRANA, alongside other journalists and independent analysts emphasised that discrepancies between official and independent casualty figures were driven in part by near-total internet shutdowns, restricted information flows, limits on foreign media access, and security pressure on local reporters. These conditions, including arrests and intimidation of journalists, significantly hindered the ability of independent monitors to document fatalities comprehensively and to verify casualty data during the protests. 24 January The HRANA total death count estimate, including both verified cases and deaths under investigation, grew above 20,000 on 24 January, with counts of 5,149 adult protesters, 60 minors, 208 security force members, 42 non-participants, and 17,031 deaths under investigation, making 22,490 in total. HRANA stated that the overall level of repression was unprecedented, with a cumulative number of 205 broadcast false confessions and the total number of arrests reaching 40,887. 25 January On 25 January, Time reported the 8 and 9 January protest-related death toll as 30,304 from hospital records, according to Amir Parasta, a doctor, excluding military hospital records, bodies in morgues, and places not included in the analysis. Time also stated that two senior health officials said that the death toll "could have been" 30,000, and that Time could not independently verify the two health officials' estimate. The same day, Iran International reported more than 36,500 were killed by security forces on 8 and 9 January, based on documents reviewed by Iran International's editorial board, as well as field reports and accounts from medical staff and victims' families. 27 January The Guardian reported that the Islamic Republic was concealing protest deaths through mass graves and burials. February Arrests in relation to the protests continued in early February. Arrests of three politicians, Azar Mansouri, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, and former Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, were announced on 8 February. Reports also emerged in February about the detention of Shin-Nosuke Kawashima, the head of the NHK office in Tehran, and his transfer to Evin Prison. The government of Japan confirmed the detention of one of its citizens in Tehran and stated that Tokyo authorities were in contact with the detainee and his family, demanding his swift release. Iranian officials have not yet officially confirmed the arrest. NHK stated that the safety of its staff is a priority, and no further information has been provided on the matter. March Amid the Iran war and the ongoing internet blackout, 466 people were arrested in Iran on 24 March for their online activities, with over 1,000 arrests having been made over the course of the month since the start of the war, pertaining to individuals accused of "filming sensitive locations", "sharing antigovernment content online", or "cooperating with the enemy". Executions According to an HRANA report on 16 January, Iran carried out at least 52 executions during the protests between 5 and 14 January. On 21 January, HRANA further added that at least 313 prisoners were executed during the time of the protests. On 12 January 2026, it was reported that 26-year-old protester, Erfan Soltani, was sentenced to be executed on 14 January, making him one of the first of these protesters to be handed an execution sentence. Soltani was arrested during protests in Fardis on 8 January. Human rights groups and activists reported that Soltani was denied access to a lawyer, a fair trial, or any opportunity to appeal. Shortly before the execution date, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied any plans to hang people, and Soltani's family was notified that his execution had been postponed, while the judiciary stated that the charges against him only consisted of "colluding against national security" and "propaganda activities against the establishment" which are not punishable by death in Iran. On 16 January, US president Donald Trump thanked the government for promising to stop 800 planned executions; however, Ali Salehi, State Prosecutor in Tehran was seen on state television saying: "Trump says a lot of nonsense and gibberish", and "Our reaction will be forceful, preventive and swift. Indictments have been issued for numerous cases and sent to courts." Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, stated that carrying out the sentences quickly would serve as a deterrent. On 19 January 2026, UN rights chief Volker Türk claimed in a statement that Iran was using executions "as a tool of state intimidation". During 2025, 1,500 people had been executed in Iran. The number of executions in 2025 was second only to China. On 17 January, another protester, 19-year-old Amirhossein Ghaderzadeh, was sentenced to death by hanging, with his execution scheduled for 21 January. On 20 January, reports circulated that the Iran Human Rights Society (IHRS) said that an Iranian conscript named Javid Khales had been sentenced to death after refusing an order to fire on protesters and that he was being held in Isfahan Prison, though this has not been independently verified. On 22 January, 33-year-old Ali Rahbar was reportedly executed in Mashhad, becoming one of the first protesters to be executed. Iran's judiciary denied his execution having taken place, stating that such a person had not even been detained. According to activists, human rights advocates, and foreign intelligence, the Islamic Republic secretly executed jailed protesters while disguising the deaths as protest casualties and suicides. There were also reports of detainees being injected with unknown substances, leading to their deaths. On 9 February, it was reported that the Islamic Republic was pressuring the families of detainees to attend pro-government rallies planned for 22 Bahman (11 February), marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, telling them that only if they complied and attended would their detained relatives be spared execution or have their sentences reduced. On 16 February, it was reported that the Islamic Republic had issued death sentences for at least sixteen detained protesters, with multiple detainees stating they had been tortured and were compelled to sign forced confessions. Norway-based rights group Hengaw stated the cases are marred by due process violations. Reports also indicated detained protesters were being brutally tortured and raped before being killed in prison, including women's bodies being returned to their families with missing wombs in order to hide the crimes. On 2 April, another protester, 18-year-old Amir Hossein Hatami, was executed. On 5 April, two more protesters were executed. Government forces Government authorities repeatedly presented fatalities during the protests as members of the security forces killed by protesters, after which evidence from witnesses and family statements showed that the victim had been shot by the security forces. during which four protesters were killed by the IRGC. On 4 January, eyewitnesses and other sources clarified that Karimi was present among the protesters when he was shot by IRGC members, and died in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ilam. Karimi was a retired brigadier-general by profession. Karimi's son stated on Telegram, "My father's only 'crime' was telling [the government security forces] not to shoot at the people." On 7 January, militants of the Baloch nationalist militant organisation People's Fighters Front (PFF) assassinated Mahmoud Haqiqat, the police chief of Iranshahr. Notable victims • Shahram Maghsoudi, powerlifting champion • Mojtaba Tarshiz, former professional footballer • Salar Behdari, goalkeeper in the Persian Gulf Pro League for Aluminium Arak F.C. • Mohammad Hajipour, former goalkeeper for the Iran national beach soccer team • Ahmad Ramezanzadeh, catcher for the Iran national baseball team Several Afghan migrants were also among those killed in the protests. == Reactions ==

holding a solidarity rally in Perth, Australia, on 10 January 2026 against the Islamic Republic Reactions to the protests ranged from calls for dialogue and economic relief to warnings of force. Domestic • Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said officials should talk to protesters, but added that "rioters must be put in their place". • As the unrest continued, President Masoud Pezeshkian announced economic measures including changes to foreign-exchange subsidies intended to shift support directly to consumers. Pezeshkian later apologized to the nation for the massacres. • Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref attempted to resign during the first days of the protests, but it was not accepted by President Pezeshkian. • Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, said "Malicious individuals and organised movements want to turn any kind of public demand and protest into chaos and chaos using their trained agents in the square, but the Iranian nation has repeatedly demonstrated its vigilance, awareness, and compassion for the country's security". • On 10 January 2026, the IRGC warned that safeguarding security is a "red line". • Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, the head of Iran's judiciary, said that the punishment for rioters would "be decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency". • Attorney general Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that anyone taking part in demonstrations is an "enemy of God", a crime that carries the death penalty under Iranian law. • On 19 January, Ahmad-Reza Radan, Iran's national police chief stated that those who were "deceived" into taking part in the demonstrations, or "riots" as the government defines them, have three days to turn themselves in. He also said: Important arrests were made of the main elements of the unrest, who will be punished after going through legal procedures. • On 20 January the Iranian Parliament threatened that an attack on Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will lead to Jihad. • On 25 January, Yousef Pezeshkian, one of president Masoud Pezeshkian's sons, urged authorities to lift internet restrictions, arguing that blocking access would only delay, not prevent, the spread of images and videos showing the government's violent suppression of protesters. • The Workers' Union of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company said "the path to the liberation of workers and toilers does not lie in a leader imposed on the people from above, nor in reliance on foreign powers, nor through factions within the government." • On 23 March, the Iranian judiciary said that there would be "no leniencies" for those with convicted with relation to the protests. International Iranian diaspora , Sweden on 25 January 2026 The Iranian diaspora held solidarity rallies worldwide, with some facing violence and threats during the demonstrations. Intergovernmental organisations • : The European External Action Service urged Iran's security forces to exercise restraint and called on authorities to uphold rights including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The EU also co-signed the aforementioned joint statement issued by Australia and Canada. • On 16 March 2026, the council of the European Union imposed new sanctions following human rights abuses during the January protests. Those sanctioned include senior officials such as Iran's Deputy Interior Minister for Security, commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), judiciary members, and prison authorities, many of whom are accused of abuses including torture, forced confessions, unfair trials, and harsh sentencing of protesters, activists, journalists, and minorities. Also sanctioned were key organizations involved in repression, including IRGC-linked groups and Naji Research and Development Company (NRDC), which developed surveillance technology used to monitor citizens, as well as cyber police authorities responsible for censorship and online prosecutions. The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans to the EU, and prohibitions on receiving funds from EU citizens or companies. • The criticised Iran's internet shutdown and violation of civil liberties. On 20 January it was stated that The UN Human Rights Council would hold an emergency session on Iran on 23 January about the extreme violence in Iran. • UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato called for an independent investigation to determine whether the Iranian government's suppression of nationwide protests constitutes crimes against humanity. • On 23 January 2026, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution condemning the violent suppression of protests in Iran. Twenty-five states voted in favor of the resolution, including Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Mexico, Colombia, South Korea, and Ghana. Seven states voted against, including China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Fourteen states abstained, including Brazil, Qatar, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, and Thailand. States • and issued a joint statement condemning Iran's use of force against protesters. • – On 23 January 2026, China voted against a UN Human Rights Council resolution that condemned Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests. • , and the 's Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Keir Starmer, respectively, released a joint statement on 9 January urging Iran to exercise restraint. later saying "If a regime can only keep itself in power by force, then it's effectively at the end. I believe we are now seeing the final days and weeks of this regime. In any case, it has no legitimacy through elections in the population. The population is now rising up against this regime." • – Pope Leo XIV expressed concern. • – On 23 January 2026, India voted against a UNHRC resolution condemning the crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran. • Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, said it was "with [the Iranian protesters] in the field". • – Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed concern about the killing of protesters and described protests as a "fundamental human right". • – On 15 January 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian ambassador to express concern over the growing number of casualties and arrests, and called on Iran to cease violence against the protesters and initiate talks. • – The government of Pedro Sánchez condemned the violence against demonstrators in Iran. • – On 2 February 2026, Ukraine designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, citing the violent crackdown on protestors. • – On 13 January 2026, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper summoned the Iranian ambassador over the mass killings. British Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander told Sky News that the current priority is to "stem the violence" in Iran. She said Iran is a threat to the Middle East and represses its own people. • – US president Donald Trump warned that the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities violently suppressed "peaceful protests", and stated that the US was "locked and loaded and ready to go". Trump later said that US is considering "very strong options" as a response to the Iran protests, among them possible military intervention, and he said: "we will hit them at levels that they've never been hit before". On 15 January, multiple sources reported that Carrier Strike Group 3 was expected to arrive in the Middle East in "about a week", and The New York Times reported that an array of combat and refuelling aircraft "were expected to start flowing into the region soon". On 16 January, Trump thanked the Iranian government for promising to stop the 800 planned executions. On 26 January, U.S. officials said the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its escorting warships entered the Middle East region. Defence Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik, said Iran would respond "forcefully" to any US or Israeli attack. On 13 February 2026, United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that Washington engineered a dollar shortage in Iran to send the Iranian rial into freefall and cause protests in Iran. • – Foreign minister Hakan Fidan stated that the protests in Iran were "being manipulated from abroad by Iran's rivals", including the United States and Israel, expressed a wish for the resolution of the perceived antagonism between Iran and the West through negotiations, and called on Iran to engage in "very genuine reconciliation and cooperation" with other Middle Eastern countries. NGOs • Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the violent repression and documented indiscriminate killings and arrests. Others • The Mobarizoun Popular Front, a newly-formed Baloch nationalist organisation, expressed its support for the protests. • The Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order expressed support for the Iranian opposition against the Iranian government in early January, calling the Iranian government a "fraudulent mullah regime". • The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) co-chair Amir Kerimi stated that the Islamic Republic had lost its social legitimacy and described the situation as an opportunity to build "a democratic and decentralised Iran ... that transcends the nation-state, based on the self-governance of the people", while indicating "the construction of a new authoritarian regime through Reza Pahlavi" as his biggest concern. • Israel's former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, stated "At this time, when what matters is the action of the masses on the ground, we need to stay behind and direct things with an invisible hand". Corporate organisations From 9 January 2026, multiple international airlines suspended or cancelled flights to and from Iran due to the protests, the internet blackout, and security concerns. Turkish Airlines cancelled flights between Istanbul and Iranian cities including Tehran, Tabriz and Mashhad, while AJet and Pegasus Airlines suspended all services to Iran. UAE carriers flydubai and Emirates halted flights to Iranian destinations, and Qatar Airways cancelled several flights from Doha to Iran. In Europe, Austrian Airlines cancelled its Vienna-Tehran flight on 9 January. Lufthansa, which had planned to resume flights on 16 January after it suspended them due to regional security concerns, delayed its plans to resume services due to the protests. International travel advisories Since the outbreak of the protests, several countries have issued travel advisories or warnings for Iran and have advised their citizens to leave the country. These advisories cite security concerns and potential disruptions to transportation and communications. Countries that have issued such advisories include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, New Zealand, Ireland, and India. Polling A January 2026 Quinnipiac poll of US voters found that 70% oppose US military involvement in Iran, 79% of Democrats, 80% of independents and 53% of Republicans opposed military involvement. == Analysis ==

On 30 December, Iran International suggested the protests were a "historic break" of Iranian bazaar merchants, usually a key ally of the Islamic Republic, from the government. This break was fuelled by the Islamic Republic's blame towards the merchants as "price gougers" for rejecting state-standardised pricing, and being unable to restock market inventories if they complied to their demands. Anger towards the government by merchants was also caused by the proposed 2025–26 Iranian budget, which would prioritise deficit spending and tax increases to make up for a decline in oil revenues. Iran International cited the opinion of intelligence analysts and journalists, who suggested Iran might have entered the early stages of regime collapse. On 4 January, Iranian officials, including foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, described the government as being in a "survival mode", with difficulties in either reversing economic problems or handling the threat of attack by the US or Israel. Pezeshkian held emergency meetings following the start of the protests. Some advisers recommended he publicly criticise the role of Khamenei as supreme leader. A 5 January analysis argued the 2025–26 protests differ from the Mahsa Amini protests, in that the former include small towns rather than just cities, and involve a broader range of groups, including students, workers, women, and ethnic minorities. The analysis saw differences in the international context as significant, with Trump's unpredictability and willingness to violate international law as differing from Biden, and the fall of the Assad regime as a weakening of Iran's regional support. The authors saw the focus of the 2025–2026 protests as shifting from social reform to regime change. An analysis in Iran International argued that the fact that students conducted a walkout from high schools throughout the country in mid-February shows that members of Gen Z have not given up despite the attempts to suppress the protests with extensive force. In early January 2026, The Times referred to intelligence reports stating that Khamenei had an escape plan, for him, 20 close associates and family members, including son Mojtaba Khamenei, ready to flee to Moscow in case security forces defected to the protesters. Beni Sabti, a former Israeli intelligence officer, stated he expected Moscow to be Khamenei's preferred location of exile. Social scientist Mali Rezaei viewed the protests as showing a "deepening rupture between society and the ideological foundations of the state". She argued that one of the factors was the context of Iran's multi-millennial history and ethnic and cultural diversity, in which the seventh century CE Muslim conquest of Persia left in place "a persistent resistance to absolutism". She pointed to a 2020 GAMAAN study that found that irreligion in Iran and support for secularism was growing. Rezaei saw environmental crises such as the disappearance of Lake Urmia as playing a role. She viewed the government's destruction of elements of Persian culture and a "passivity in defending [cultural] legacy" as a weakening of the government's protection of "the nation". Rezaei saw the Mahsa Amini protests and the Woman, Life, Freedom slogan as a turning point in which the protest movement evolved to avoid cooptation by either the government or celebrities. She viewed the pro-Pahlavi slogans as mainly representing a desire for a secular democracy, not absolute monarchy, that would recover national agency. On 26 January, The New York Times cited US intelligence reports viewing Iran's government as being in its weakest position since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The NYT stated that a US military buildup near Iran was ongoing and viewed it as unclear if the US administration had taken a decision for a military attack. View as an uprising On 10 January, human rights activist Hamid Enayat suggested that "dozens of instances" of disarmament of security forces during the protests, and the "breakdown of the deterrent function" of the state's monopoly of violence indicated a transition to a new phase, that of an uprising. Enayat cited cases of protesters stopping security forces on buses, disarming them and tying their hands, and a case of a stun gun being taken from a security forces member and used against him. He argued that Malekshahi County effectively came under insurgent control on 6 January when security forces fled. He saw the protests as having shifted to a phase in which the state had lost its power to frighten citizens into obedience. On 11 January, historian Mark Almond disagreed with comparison of the Iranian protests to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. He argued it would be more like the Storming of the Bastille, because, if successful, the overthrow of the Islamic Republic would be a rebellion against an internally developed regime, rather than one imposed internationally. He argued the protests already qualified for the term "revolution". In contradistinction most Israeli analysts believed the conditions for successful revolution had not yet been met, the existential threat to the regime notwithstanding. A minority view, such as held by retired Brigadier General Amir Avivi, chairman of the Israel Defence and Security Forum (IDSF), is that the Iranian regime faces imminent collapse. View as the beginning of regime change On 13 January, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that "we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime", arguing that "If a regime can only stay in power through violence, then it is effectively finished." Historian Ali Ansari argued that while the Iranian regime has long relied on violence, it now faces a fragile state with dwindling resources and growing disenchantment. Ansari notes, "The Islamic Republic has few options that don't include its own demise", pointing to the rising anger and fear among the population, with many believing the regime has no future. This sentiment marks a turning point, as even the previously apathetic are now rejecting the system. According to The Economist, Iran's leadership, having resorted to violence to maintain power, may be at breaking point. "Iran's rulers are merciless because of their weakness. They have nowhere to turn and nothing to offer their people but violence." It concluded this could be "the moment that ends the theocrats' 47 years in power". An analysis in Prospect examined four scenarios of change if the government fell. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said that only the Iranian people can topple the Iranian government. == See also ==