CRY FREEDOM.net
formerly known as
Women's Liberation Front
'Insight is the first step of resistance against any ideologic form of dictatorial and misogynistic oppression'

Manifest - Oct 26, 2025
Slaughterhouse Rape

Manifest - Start August 31, 2025
Matriarchism is alive and kicking
UPDATE with New Story: Sept 19, 2025:
Tunisian women react to gender remarks: A consequence of patriarchal mentality
Earlier stories embedded:
Sept 10, 2025: Rûken Nexede on ‘Jin Jiyan Azadî’: Philosophy of freedom, equality
And “How Fiercely We Cling to Life” – A Prison Letter from Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee

Manifest - Axis of Evil - J´Accuse :-)
August 8 025

Tribute to KIAN PIRFALA, 9 years old and victim of the Islamic Republic's savagery 10 years ago

Editors' info: About a possible change of the name of the outlet:
and no, the URL www.cryfreedom.net will not change in this. Too much hassles and as such the outlet
is too well known to run that risk. Still, to enhance the content of it the
name online will be incl. a logo named
´Woman, Life, Freedom - MENA News Agency
covering the news from the Middle East and North Africa and covering all the Arabic muslim world.
Any feedback, negative or positive, on this is more than welcome at info@cryfreedom.net
Thank you for your time and input.

 HEAR JINA AMINI'S VOICE
And do read also the above linked  incredible December 2023 update!

despite the mullahs' regime to force it down!
Her mother speaks out loud and clear
UPDATED: September 29 - 16, 2024
Second Anniversary of Jina Amini's
state-sanctioned murder
incl. Commemorating Bloody Friday
a wave of arrests of her fellow-citizen

Overview of news about the Second aniversary of Jina Amini's state-sactioned murder September 2024


JINA AMINI
The face of Iran's protests. Her life, her dreams and her death.

Read also: Armita's Story: Iran's Generation Z Rebellion Against the Ayatollahs

Ongoing since Oct. 3, 2024:
Commemoration of the Fallen for
Freedom Part6
 Click here for previous Commemorations  
And more commemorational stories
Tortured to Death: The Story of Atefeh Na'ami
Violence During Woman, Life, Freedom Protests

HAIL TO THE IRANIAN WOMEN'S REVOLUTIONISTS FALLEN FOR FREDOM
against the supreme leader, the arch-reactionary Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, and his placeman president. The message of the women when the former president visited a university was plain: <give way or get lost> in 2023 and still is.
IN MEMORY OF ASRA PANAHI (16)- JINA MAMINI (22) - NIKA SHAKARAMI (16), SARINA ESMAILZADEH (16) HADIS NAJAFI (20), AND MORE WOMEN WHO WERE ASSASINATED SO FAR BY THE IRANIAN AXIS OF EVIL.
  Click here for a total list so far
Updates Jan 3, 2026

UPDATES OF THE UPRISING  AND REVOLUTION AROUND THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF JINA AMINI IN CUSTODY OF THE REGIME'S ATTEMPT AND CRUELTY TO TRY AND CRUSH IT.

This links to a page that is in full dedicated and a tribute to Jina Amini who, with stilll 'till today too many other sisters gave their life for freedom. Long live a long and free Iran And do read also the above linked  incredible December 2023 update! despite the mullahs' regime to force it down! Her mother speaks out loud and clear UPDATED: September 18, 2025 Full story of the Third anniversary of Jina Amini´s death September 29 - 16, 2024 Second Anniversary of Jina Amini's state-sanctioned murder incl. Commemorating Bloody Friday and earlier news about a wave of arrests of her fellow-citizen

We all grief for the loss of our sister / daughter of Iran Armita Gevarnand:   Read her updated story here   & Actual news:  Generation Z Leads Hijab Rebellion on Tehran’s Streets and Earlier Stories and more

Sisters 4 each other - Sisters 4 All
Earlier reports
Dec 13 - Nov 12, 2025
Narges Mohammadi arrested and supporters soon after too
Death sentence of Kurdish political prisoner Varisheh Moradi overturned
Zahra Tabari, Sentenced to Death, Appeals for Global Solidarity
Nov 3 - Sept 25, 2025
Zahra Shahbaz Tabari - Sentenced to Death After 10-Minute Trial
& her son speaks out: "She´not afraid to die"
& Sharifeh Mohammadi’s Death Sentence Commuted to 30 Years in Prison
& Maryam Akbari-Monfared - Iran’s Regime Raises Pressure on Families of Political Prisoners
&  Maryam Akbari-Monfared - Continued Denial of Medical Care in Qarchak Prison
Earlier reports

Sisters 4 each other, Sisters 4 All
Narges Mohammadi: "Tyranny will fall"
Pakhshan Azizi: "You dictator, I am Arash, fire responds to fire,"
Sharifeh Mohammadi: "Finally, one day, I will sing the song of victory from the summit of the mountain, like the sun. Tomorrow belongs to us"
Varisha Moradi: "Resistance is life"
 in continuation of the resistance of the 4 sisters and others
read all their previous fights

 When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
 and: My mother (1931-1997) always said to me <Mi figlio, non esistono notizie <vecchie> perche puoi imparare qualcosa da qualsiasi notizia.> Translated: <My son, there is no such thing as so called 'old' news because you can learn something from any news.>
Gianna d'Artali.

Symbol of resistance of Iranian women
Narges Mohammadi - Jina Amini : "With war there cannot be democracy"

Jina Amini Lives On

Jinhaagency - Jan 3, 2026
{KJAR: Internal Crises Are Driving Iran Toward Uncontainable Uprisings
The Free Women of East Kurdistan Community (KJAR) has warned of the worsening political, economic, and social crises in Iran, stressing that the authorities continue to practice repression against protesters.
News Center — For years, Iran has witnessed successive waves of popular protests that resurface whenever political, economic, and social crises deepen. With mounting internal pressure and deteriorating living conditions, thousands of citizens have taken to the streets across various cities to express their anger over government policies. On Saturday, January 3, the Free Women of East Kurdistan Community (KJAR) issued a statement regarding the recent events unfolding in several Iranian cities, including cities in East Kurdistan. The statement said:
“Throughout history, women’s struggle against the ideology of the Iranian regime has continued to this day. This is an undeniable reality. Women hold a historical position in society in all its aspects, particularly in resolving problems, where they have made persistent efforts. However, throughout the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, instead of opening the way to solving problems and overcoming crises, this nationalist, traditional, and religiously ideological system has consistently sought to silence democratic demands and undermine efforts to address them.” The statement emphasized that due to the Iranian authorities’ adherence to a rigid ideology, society has faced deep crises that have hindered the development of democratic political life in Iran. It added that the authorities have failed to resolve internal problems, contributing to instability in the Middle East. KJAR noted that this situation has led to widespread mass protests. In order to protect its power in the face of these protests, the Iranian authorities have resorted to various forms of violations and illegal practices, including arrests, torture, and executions, seeking to intimidate society by all means. In this context, and to justify attacks on demonstrations and social demands, the authorities prioritize security over solutions and move to increase military presence. The statement further explained that alongside political and social crises, the Iranian authorities are facing a severe economic crisis. In addition to internal challenges, Iran is encountering negative reactions from the international community due to its misguided and authoritarian foreign policies. As a result, the reinstatement of sanctions on Iran has led to an unprecedented deterioration in the living conditions of the population. Meanwhile, the state has allocated all its economic and financial resources to serve the military policies of the Revolutionary Guard, increasing military budgets under the pretext of self-defense, while leaving the population facing hunger—fueling widespread public resentment. The statement pointed out that as a result of the continuation of these policies, a new wave of protests and unrest erupted in the streets of many Iranian cities on December 28 and continues to this day. While protests have existed and will continue, this new wave has its own distinct characteristics and represents a new phase that must be taken seriously. KJAR concluded that due to the internal crisis created by the authorities, it is no longer possible to easily prevent such uprisings. The statement stressed:
“The fundamental issue is the need to resolve these problems with a democratic mindset, by listening to the people and their demands. If these problems are not resolved democratically, the Iranian people possess the awareness and capacity to determine their own destiny. Ultimately, the most viable path to democracy lies in enabling the people to reach a level of awareness, decision-making, and self-governance}: Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/kjar-internal-crises-are-driving-iran-toward-uncontainable-uprisings-38268?page=1


Jinhaagency - Jan 3, 2026
{Mai Sato: Iranian Authorities Must Stop Repressing Peaceful Protesters
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran expressed concern over the escalating clashes between protesters and security forces across the country, confirming that at least eight people have been killed during the recent protests.
News Center — Over the past week, Iran has witnessed widespread demonstrations that spread to numerous cities, with participation from various segments of society protesting deteriorating economic conditions. The protests later turned into deadly violence following clashes with police forces. UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato stated in a message published on her official page that she is closely monitoring the situation of the protests in Iran. She noted that reports indicate an increase in clashes between protesters and security forces, with this pattern spreading across the country. She added that she has received alarming reports of the deaths of at least eight protesters, calling on Iranian authorities to respect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, and to refrain from using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. Mai Sato also stressed the need to avoid a repeat of violent responses similar to those witnessed during the 2022 popular uprising, warning that the presence of an active civic space is essential for any society, and that people must be able to express their protests without fear of retaliation.}: Source: https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/mai-sato-iranian-authorities-must-stop-repressing-peaceful-protesters-38267


Ten detained, including two children
Hengaw - Dec 3, 2026
{December Protests: Ten detained, including two children, across multiple cities
Ten individuals, including two children, have been detained by Iranian authorities following the December protests in the cities of Sabzevar, Izeh, Kuhdasht, Zahedan, and Khorramabad. Those detained include Saha Davoudifar, a 17-year-old child; Mehdi Qazi, Farzad Qazi, Amir Astiri, and Erfan Tajabadi, all from Sabzevar; Benayamin Mousavi, 17; Armin Asadi and Esmail Sheikhi, all from Izeh; Mohammad Norollahi from Khorramabad; Mohammadreza Borichi from Zahedan; and Nosratollah Nazari, a resident of Kuhdasht. Information obtained by Hengaw shows that Saha Davoudifar, a 17-year-old from Sabzevar, was detained on Saturday, January 3, 2026. In the same city, Mehdi Qazi, Farzad Qazi, Amir Astiri, and Erfan Tajabadi were arrested earlier on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. In Izeh, Benayamin Mousavi, 17, was detained on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Earlier, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Esmail Sheikhi, 20, and Armin Asadi, all Lor residents of Izeh, were also detained by government forces. Mohammad Norollahi, a 23-year-old Lor man from Khorramabad, was detained by government forces on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and transferred to an undisclosed location. Separately, Mohammadreza Borichi, 19, from Zahedan, was detained on Friday, January 2, 2026, while returning home on Khayyam Street. He was arrested by security forces and subjected to physical assault at the time of his detention. Source: Hengaw English}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-18

Hengaw - Dec 3, 2026
{At least nine more detained in Kermanshah Province amid protests
At least nine Kurdish individuals from Kermanshah (Kermashan) province have been detained by Iranian authorities and transferred to undisclosed locations, bringing the total number of arrests in the province to 28. Information obtained by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights shows that Masoud Biniyaz from Eslamabad-e Gharb (Shabad) and Maziar Rostami, a 21-year-old from Kermanshah, were detained by government forces on Friday, January 3, 2026. Ehsan Hayati was detained by government forces in the Vakil Agha neighborhood of Kermanshah on Thursday, January 2, 2026. On the same day, four residents of Harsin—Yousef Safari, 22, Peyman Hosseini, Morteza Hosseini, and Ehsan Hosseini—were also detained by government forces. Aria Farhang, a 21-year-old from Kermanshah, was detained by government forces in the Nowbahar neighborhood of the city on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Reza Darabi, a 34-year-old from Kermanshah, was detained by government forces on Dabir-e Azam Street in the city on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. According to data recorded by the Statistics and Documentation Center of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at least 28 individuals have been detained by Iranian authorities over the past several days in the cities of Harsin, Kermanshah, Sarpol-e Zahab, and Eslamabad-e Gharb (Shabad). Source: Hengaw English}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-20

Hengaw - Dec 3, 2026
{At least 11 more detained in Ilam Province, total arrests reach 43
At least eleven Kurds, including three minors, have been detained by Iranian government forces across Ilam Province and transferred to undisclosed locations, bringing the total number of arrests in the province to 43 over the past three days. Hengaw has identifie those detained as Mohammad Taha Zeinivand, Peyman Hassanvand, Amin Shokripour, Shahrouz Shokripour, Reza Heidari, Esmail Zoharabi, Rahim Sadeghi, Ali-Mohammad Hayati, Reza Seifi, Ilya Ghasemi, and Ehsan Maleki. Zeinivand, a 17-year-old from Darreh Shahr, was detained by government forces earlier on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Five residents of Darreh Shahr, Hassanvand, Amin Shokripour, Shahrouz Shokripour, and Heidari, 20, along with Zoharabi from the village of Armu, a rural district of Darreh Shahr, were detained by government forces on Friday evening, January 2. On the same day, Sadeghi and Haq-Nazari from Sarableh, Hayati, 33, from Dehloran, as well as Seifi, 14, and Ghasemi, 13, two children from Dehloran, were detained by security forces and transferred to undisclosed locations. Maleki, a 34-year-old from Ilam, was detained by security forces and transferred to Ilam Central Prison on Wednesday, January 1. According to data recorded by the Statistics and Documentation Center of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at least 43 individuals have been detained by Iranian government forces in the cities of Darreh Shahr, Abdanan, Dehloran, Ilam, and Sarableh over the past three days. Source: Hengaw English}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-17


Amir Hossein Bayat and Mansour Mokhtari
Hengaw - Dec 3, 2026
{Two killed by Iranian state forces in Hamedan and Marvdasht
Iranian state forces have killed at least two men by direct gunfire during ongoing public protests in the cities of Hamedan and Marvdasht
According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Amir Hossein Bayat, a married resident of Hamedan, was shot and killed by government forces during protests on Friday, January 2, 2026. His body was transferred to Besat Hospital in Hamedan. Sources familiar with the case report that security forces confiscated the mobile phones of several members of Bayat’s family following his death. Authorities have also refused to hand over his body and have pressured the family to publicly identify him as a member of the Basij. In a separate incident, Mansour Mokhtari, a Lor resident of Marvdasht in Fars Province, was killed on the evening of Thursday, January 1, 2026, after being shot at close range by government forces. According to sources, Mokhtari was targeted during protests held in response to the earlier killing of Khodadad Shirvani, another resident of Marvdasht. The shooting occurred in front of Police Station No. 11, where Mokhtari was struck in the abdomen by live ammunition fired from a Kalashnikov-type rifle, resulting in his death. Based on data documented by Hengaw’s Statistics and Documentation Center, at least 12 people have been killed over the past three days as a result of direct gunfire by Iranian state forces in multiple cities, including Hamedan, Marvdasht, Azna, Nurabad, Kuhdasht, Harsin, Fuladshahr, and Lordegan. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-19

Mass arrests of Protesters
Hengaw - Dec 3, 2026
{December Protests: Hengaw reports 77 additional arrests across multiple cities
At least 77 additional individuals have been arrested in recent days amid the continuation of public protests and a widespread wave of detentions across multiple cities in Iran. According to information collected by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, those detained include 45 Kurds and 23 Lors, among them at least four women and six children. With the inclusion of these 77 arrests over the past six days, the total number of recent detainees whose identities have been verified by Hengaw has risen to 132.
Breakdown of all detainees:
..........
In addition to the arrests listed above, Hengaw has received reports of further detentions in other cities. The identities of those individuals are currently under verification. Public protests began on Sunday, December 29, 2025, following strikes and collective protest marches by shopkeepers in Tehran, before spreading to other cities. The protests have been met with a repressive response by government forces, and in recent days a significant number of individuals, including women and children, have been arrested. Source: Hengaw English}: Read more here: https://hengaw.net/en/reports-and-statistics-1/2026/01/article-1

Iranfocus - Jan 2, 2026 Mehdi Hosseini
{Dozens of Protesters Arrested During Iran’s Nationwide Protests
Six days after the start of nationwide protests in Iran, security forces of the Iranian regime have arrested dozens of protesters in various cities. So far, no precise figure for the number of detainees has been released. Meanwhile, Mansour Saleki, the political, social, and security deputy of the governor of Malard, a city in Tehran province, announced on Thursday, January 1, the arrest of 30 people, describing them as disruptors of public order. Kazem Nazari, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Kuhdasht in Lorestan province, also said that at least 20 protesters have been arrested in this city. Following public protests in the city of Farsan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, at least 20 protesters were also arrested, most of whom were under 18 years old. Yousef Ahmadi-Pour, deputy commander of the Law Enforcement Forces in Lorestan province, also reported the arrest of one person in the city of Khorramabad. The HRANA human rights website also reported on Thursday that six women who had been arrested during widespread citizen protests in Tehran were transferred on the evening of Wednesday, December 31, to the women’s ward of Evin Prison after one day of detention in security facilities. The state-run Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also quoted “an informed source” in the Ministry of Intelligence as saying that seven citizens had been arrested in Kermanshah, adding: “These individuals were elements affiliated with the opposition and intended to turn the protests violent.” The security and judicial apparatuses of the Iranian regime routinely attribute detained protesters to opposition groups and accuse them of violent acts. Nevertheless, in protests in past years, numerous reports have been published about the deliberate carrying out of such violent acts by security forces themselves. Meanwhile, the head of the judiciary of Fasa city announced, following clashes between law enforcement and security forces and protesters in front of the city’s governor’s office, that four protesting citizens were arrested during the confrontation. Some channels close to security institutions have claimed that one of the arrested protesters was a 27-year-old woman. On the other hand, a video circulated on social media in which the person filming reported the arrest of a citizen by plainclothes security forces in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and called on other citizens to intervene to prevent the arrest. Meanwhile, according to HRANA, following the publication of a call for a protest gathering in the city of Behbahan, four people were arrested by security forces on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. According to student channels, security agents also arrested several female students on Wednesday night in front of Beheshti University in Tehran. At the same time, the Khajeh Nasir newsletter channel wrote on Thursday that alongside the nationwide protests in Iran and protests at universities, “a new wave of anonymous and private-number calls from intelligence and security institutions” has begun. Quoting numerous student reports, the newsletter added that these calls are mainly directed at individuals who previously had a history of summons, security cases, or contact by security institutions. Contact with some other students has also been reported who, “for specific but publicly unstateable reasons,” have been placed on the pressure lists of these institutions. Referring to the fact that “the intelligence institutions of Iran’s corrupt system” have long targeted families instead of directly contacting students and pursue summons and threats through psychological pressure, the Khajeh Nasir newsletter added: “Calls are made directly to the student’s mother; a deliberate attempt to wound emotions, instill fear in the family, and break the student’s resistance through emotional means.” Regarding the arrest of protesting students and their subsequent rapid release, the newsletter wrote: “The aim is not judicial response but merely to create fear, intimidation, and to push back the student movement. These calls are understandable precisely within this framework.” During the 2022 protests, Iran’s regime arrested close to 30,000 people and killed more than 750 people in Iran’s streets.} Source: https://iranfocus.com/iran/56574-dozens-of-protesters-arrested-during-irans-nationwide-protests/

Iranfocus - Jan 2, 2026 Sia Rajabi
{Protests in Iran Entered Their Sixth Day, and Iran’s Regime Has So Far Killed Several People
On the sixth day of nationwide protests in Iran, gatherings and marches continued in a number of cities, and during the funerals of three slain protesters, chants were raised against the Iranian regime. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump said that if Iran’s regime kills peaceful protesters, the United States will come to their aid. Protesting citizens in the city of Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran, on Friday, January 2, on the sixth day of nationwide protests, chanted slogans including “Death to the dictator,” “Death to Khamenei,” “Khamenei, have shame, let go of the country,” “We swear by the blood of our comrades, we will stand to the end,” and “Iranian, shout out, cry out for your rights.”
Those killed in the protests
The PMOI released the names and particulars of eight protesters killed by the regime’s security forces in recent protests, including a 15-year-old. The death toll is larger and the opposition is investigating into the details. Various sources confirmed by noon on January 2 the identities of five protesters killed in the cities of Kuhdasht, Fuladshahr, Marvdasht, Azna, and Lordegan. Amirhossein Khodayari-Fard, Daryoush Ansari Bakhtiarvand, Khodadad Shirvani-Monfared, Shayan Asadollahi, and Ahmad Jalil are the five slain protesters whose identities have been confirmed. The funerals of Shirvani, Ansari, and Khodayari-Fard were held on January 2 in the cities of Marvdasht, Kuhdasht, and Fuladshahr, despite the heavy presence of security forces. Participants in these ceremonies chanted slogans including “This flower has been torn apart and has become a gift to the homeland,” “Death to Khamenei,” and “Basij, IRGC, you are ISIS to us.” Videos published on social media also show that protesting citizens held a protest march after the end of Shirvani’s funeral ceremony. At the same time, images published showed that participants in Khodayari-Fard’s funeral drove away regime forces present at the ceremony, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij militia.
Reaction to the protests
U.S. President Donald Trump, referring to the ongoing protests in Iran, wrote on the Truth Social platform that “if Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters,” the US would intervene, adding, “We are locked and loaded.” In this message, Trump emphasized that, according to him, violently killing protesters is the usual practice of Iran’s regime and that Washington will respond under such circumstances. Trump also announced that the United States is on “full alert” and ready to take action. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, wrote on X: “The American people should know that Trump started the adventurism and should watch over their soldiers.” Larijani added: “With the positions taken by Israeli officials and Trump, the behind-the-scenes of the matter became clear. We distinguish between the positions of protesting shopkeepers and destructive elements, and Trump should know that U.S. interference in this internal issue is equal to destabilizing the entire region and destroying U.S. interests.” Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the foreign ministry of the Iranian regime, also wrote on his X account that Iranians, through dialogue and interaction with one another to resolve problems, “will not allow any form of foreign interference.” Ali Shamkhani, a member of Iran’s regime Defense Council, also wrote on X: “Any interfering hand that approaches Iran’s security under pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response before it reaches its goal.” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the regime’s parliament, also wrote: “The disrespectful president of America should know that all American centers and forces throughout the entire region will be legitimate targets for us in response to any potential adventurism.”} Source: https://iranfocus.com/iran/56570-protests-in-iran-entered-their-sixth-day-and-irans-regime-has-so-far-killed-several-people/

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Five men arrested by government forces in Esfarayen
Five Kurdish men from Esfarayen County in North Khorasan, identified as Ali Qavidel, Peyman Mirzaei, Issa Shokouri, Abbas Beidi, and Arien Heidari, were arrested by government forces and transferred to undisclosed locations. According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Issa Shokouri, a 24-year-old resident of Esfarayen, was arrested on Friday, January 2, 2026. In a separate incident on Thursday evening, January 1, 2026, Ali Qavidel, Peyman Mirzaei, Abbas Beidi, 25, and Arien Heidari, 20, all from Esfarayen, were also arrested. Following their arrests, the individuals were transferred to undisclosed locations, and no information is currently available regarding their conditions of detention or health status. Source: Hengaw English}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-16

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Ali Azizi killed by direct fire during protests in Kermanshah
Ali Azizi Jafarabadi, a 42-year-old Kurdish man from Harsin County in Kermanshah (Kermashan) province, was killed during protests in the city after Iranian government forces opened direct fire. According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Azizi Jafarabadi, a resident of Harsin originally from the village of Jafarabad-e Hezarkhani, was shot dead by forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Friday evening, January 2, 2026. Informed sources said that protest gatherings were held in Harsin on both Friday night and the previous evening, January 1, during which government forces fired live ammunition at protesters. Reports indicate that several Kurdish protesters were also wounded. Ali Azizi Jafarabadi was married and a father of two. Source: Hengaw English}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-14-1

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Iran arrests five protesters in Asadabad amid ongoing crackdown
State repressive forces have arrested five protesters in Asadabad, Hamedan Province, amid an ongoing crackdown on public demonstrations. The detainees have been identified as Mohammad Hossein Shafiqian and Yousef Morseli, two Kurdish men; Alireza Nouri and Amir Farhadi, two Turkish men; and Sam Forough, a Persian man from Asadabad. According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, government forces carried out coordinated raids on residential homes in Asadabad, during which the five men were violently arrested. The arrests were carried out without the presentation of warrants and involved intimidation and the use of force. Following their detention, all five individuals were transferred to undisclosed locations, and their families have been denied information regarding their whereabouts. Authorities have not disclosed the reasons for the arrests, the charges against the detainees, or their current condition. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-14

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Ahmadreza Amani killed by state gunfire in Azna amid ongoing demonstrations
Iranian state forces have shot and killed Ahmadreza Amani, a 28-year-old Lor man from Azna, Lorestan Province, during ongoing public protests in the city. He is the fourth protester killed in Azna within a single day. According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Amani was fatally shot at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026, during street protests in Azna. He was struck in the chest by live ammunition fired by state forces. Amani, a law graduate and trainee lawyer, was rushed to hospital following the shooting but died shortly after arrival due to severe internal bleeding. Sources told Hengaw that authorities have refused to hand over his body to his family. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-12

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli killed during protests in Nurabad
Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli, a resident of Nurabad (Delfan) in Lorestan province, was killed during protests in the city after being shot by Iranian government forces. Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights indicates that Ebrahimpour Abdoli, a single man approximately 35 years old from the village of Hasan Gaviar Mirbeg in Delfan County, was shot and killed by Iranian government forces on Thursday evening, January 1, 2025, in Ba’ath Square in Nurabad. According to eyewitnesses, he was struck by three bullets, one of which hit his heart, causing his death. Sources familiar with the case report that Ebrahimpour Abdoli was shot while attempting to help a woman whom Iranian government forces were trying to arrest. Hengaw has also learned that security forces and the city’s Friday prayer leader have pressured the victim’s family to declare that he was a member of the Basij and to claim that he was shot by what authorities described as “enemy forces.” Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-11

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Seven Kurds arrested in Sarpol-e Zahab over peaceful protest call
Seven Kurdish men from Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah (Kermashan) province, Qaem Badri, Askar Najafi, Ahad Moradi, Esfandiar Sarvari, Jabbar Jamshidi, Masoud Aghaei, and Mehdi Karimi, have been arrested in connection with the republishing of a call for a peaceful protest. Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights indicates that the arrests were carried out on Friday, January 2, 2026. All seven men, residents of Sarpol-e Zahab, were detained and transferred to an undisclosed location. Among those arrested, Mehdi Karimi had previously been detained during the Woman, Life, Freedom (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) movement, and his name had been listed among those injured during the protests. He was arrested at his workplace, a small kiosk located in one of the parks in Sarpol-e Zahab. The seven Kurdish men were arrested after republishing a call for a peaceful protest gathering and remain held at an undisclosed location. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-10
 

Razieh Khahesh
WNCRI - in Women's News - Jan 2, 2026
{Six Women Transferred to Evin Prison; Teenage Girl Arrested in Yasuj
As the crackdown on nationwide protests continues, six women who were arrested during demonstrations in Tehran were transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on Wednesday evening, December 31, 2025, after spending one day in security detention facilities. These women were detained amid widespread public protests in Tehran and, following initial interrogation procedures, were moved to Evin Prison. The identities of the six women have been reported as: Elnaz Kari, Negar Ghanbari, Helena Rostami, Masoumeh Nouri, Fatemeh Hashempour, and Aida (surname unknown). In another development, a teenage girl named Razieh Khahesh was also arrested by security forces on December 31, 2025. According to reports, she was detained violently and is currently being held in Yasuj Prison.
The rising number of arrests of women and girls during the nationwide protests indicates escalating security measures and the systematic violation of protesters’ rights.} Source: https://wncri.org/2026/01/02/six-women-evin-prison-razieh-khahesh/


state forces arrest 29 protesters
Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Iranian state forces arrest 29 protesters, including women, children, and Kurdish and Lor residents, amid ongoing protests
Iranian authorities have arrested at least 29 protesters amid the ongoing wave of protests across Iran. Those detained include include 14 Kurds, 7 Lors, 7 women, and two children, in the cities of Esfarayen, Dehloran, Darrehshahr, Izeh, Baghmalek, Yasuj, and Kermanshah. According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, three Lor residents — Pezhman Pegah from Baghmalek, and Pouria Key Shams (20) and Hesam Mohammadi (16) from Izeh — were arrested on Thursday, January 1, 2026. On the same day, two Kurdish men from Darrehshahr in Ilam Province — Bijan Karimian (21) and Mohammad Hasanvand (21) — were detained by government forces. Later that evening, Ali Ghoidel, a Kurdish resident of Esfarayen in North Khorasan Province, was also arrested. At least 10 Kurdish residents of Dehloran were detained on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. They have been identified as Akbar Darvishi, Aref Darvishi, Mohammad Havasi, Sepehr Salehi, Amir Raeofi, Ehsan Maleki, Milad Kiadi, Farzad Shokri, Abolfazl Shadfar, and Sharif Azad. In addition, Shayan Asl-Marz (18) from Darreh Shahr was arrested. Simultaneously, Motin Koshkbaghi (23) from Sabzevar (Razavi Khorasan Province), Razieh Khahesh, a Lor protester from Yasuj, and Kurdish activist Salman Mirzaei from Kermanshah were taken into custody. In Tehran, six women protesters — Negar Ghanbari, Helna Rostami, Elnaz Kari, Ma’soumeh Nouri, Fatemeh Hashempour, and a woman identified only as Aida — were detained during demonstrations on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, and subsequently transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Shapour Alborzi, Arman Soleimani (28), and Nemat Heydari, all Lor residents of Izeh in Khuzestan Province, were abducted by security forces. Hengaw expresses deep concern about the safety and legal status of the detainees, many of whom are being held in unknown locations, without access to lawyers or contact with their families, in violation of fundamental due-process standards. These arrests take place amid protests that began on December 28, 2025, triggered by severe currency devaluation, worsening economic hardship, and deteriorating living conditions. State forces have responded with widespread repression, including mass arrests and the use of violence against demonstrators. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-8

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli killed during protests in Nurabad
Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli, a resident of Nurabad (Delfan) in Lorestan province, was killed during protests in the city after being shot by Iranian government forces. Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights indicates that Ebrahimpour Abdoli, a single man approximately 35 years old from the village of Hasan Gaviar Mirbeg in Delfan County, was shot and killed by Iranian government forces on Thursday evening, January 1, 2025, in Ba’ath Square in Nurabad. According to eyewitnesses, he was struck by three bullets, one of which hit his heart, causing his death. Sources familiar with the case report that Ebrahimpour Abdoli was shot while attempting to help a woman whom Iranian government forces were trying to arrest. Hengaw has also learned that security forces and the city’s Friday prayer leader have pressured the victim’s family to declare that he was a member of the Basij and to claim that he was shot by what authorities described as “enemy forces.” Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-11

Hengaw - Dec 2, 2026
{Seven Kurds arrested in Sarpol-e Zahab over peaceful protest call
Seven Kurdish men from Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah (Kermashan) province, Qaem Badri, Askar Najafi, Ahad Moradi, Esfandiar Sarvari, Jabbar Jamshidi, Masoud Aghaei, and Mehdi Karimi, have been arrested in connection with the republishing of a call for a peaceful protest. Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights indicates that the arrests were carried out on Friday, January 2, 2026. All seven men, residents of Sarpol-e Zahab, were detained and transferred to an undisclosed location. Among those arrested, Mehdi Karimi had previously been detained during the Woman, Life, Freedom (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) movement, and his name had been listed among those injured during the protests. He was arrested at his workplace, a small kiosk located in one of the parks in Sarpol-e Zahab. The seven Kurdish men were arrested after republishing a call for a peaceful protest gathering and remain held at an undisclosed location. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-10

Al Jazeera - Jan 1, 2026
{Several killed as Iran protests over rising cost of living spread
Iranian president seeks to calm tensions, acknowledging protesters’ ‘legitimate’ grievances over inflation. At least six people have been killed as demonstrations over the soaring cost of living in Iran spread to more parts of the country. At least three people were killed and 17 others were injured at protests in the city of Azna in Lorestan province, some 300km (185 miles) southwest of Tehran, Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported on Thursday. Videos shared online appeared to show objects in the street ablaze and gunfire echoing as people shouted: “Shameless! Shameless!” Earlier, Fars said two people were killed during protests in the city of Lordegan, about 470km (290 miles) south of the capital Tehran in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. “Some protesters began throwing stones at the city’s administrative buildings, including the provincial governor’s office, the mosque, the Martyrs’ Foundation, the town hall and banks,” Fars said, adding that police responded with tear gas. Online videos showed demonstrators gathered on a street, with the sound of gunfire in the background.
Earlier on Thursday, Iranian state television also reported that a member of security forces was killed overnight during protests in the western city of Kouhdasht. “A 21-year-old member of the Basij from the city of Kouhdasht was killed last night by rioters while defending public order,” the channel said, quoting Said Pourali, the deputy governor of Lorestan province. The Basij are a volunteer force linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The reports come days after shopkeepers began protesting on Sunday over the government’s handling of a currency slide and rapidly rising prices. The unrest comes at a critical moment for Iran as Western sanctions hammer an economy hit by 40 percent inflation, and after air strikes by Israel and the United States in June targeted the country’s nuclear infrastructure and military leadership. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi explained that the government has taken a more cautious approach to this week’s protests than it did to previous demonstrations. “The government says it’s working hard to find a solution, to deal with the economic hardships that people are feeling,” Asadi said. Iran last saw mass demonstrations in 2022 and 2023 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women. The latest protests began peacefully in Tehran and spread after students from at least 10 universities joined in on Tuesday. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sought to calm tensions, acknowledging protesters’ “legitimate demands” and calling on the government to take action to improve the economic situation. “From an Islamic perspective … if we do not resolve the issue of people’s livelihoods, we will end up in hell,” Pezeshkian said at an event broadcast on state television. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Thursday the authorities would hold a direct dialogue with representatives of trade unions and merchants, without providing details. Still, the authorities have promised to take a “firm” stance and warned against exploiting the situation to sow chaos. “Any attempt to turn economic protests into a tool of insecurity, destruction of public property, or implementation of externally designed scenarios will inevitably be met with a legal, proportionate and decisive response,” Iran’s prosecutor general said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency on Wednesday evening reported the arrests of seven people it described as being affiliated with “groups hostile to the Islamic Republic based in the United States and Europe”. Iran is in the middle of an extended weekend, with the authorities declaring Wednesday a bank holiday at the last minute, citing the need to save energy due to cold weather.} Video - Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/1/several-killed-as-iran-protests-over-rising-cost-of-living-spread


Three protesters, including a child, killed
Hengaw - Dec 1, 2026
{Three protesters, including a child, killed as Iranian forces open fire in Azna
Three protesters, including a child, were killed and at least 17 others injured during ongoing protests in the city of Azna, in Iran’s Lorestan province, after Iranian forces opened fire. Hengaw Organization for Human Rights confirmed that the victims were Mostafa (surname unknown), 15, Shayan Asadollahi, 30, and Vahab Musavi, all residents of Azna. They were killed on the evening of Thursday, January 1, 2026, when Iranian forces opened fire on demonstrators. Iranian state media, including the government-affiliated Fars News Agency, claimed that protesters attempted to disarm government forces, alleging that this led to clashes. A media outlet close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps separately reported that several vehicles belonging to government forces were set ablaze during the unrest. These latest deaths bring the total number of protesters killed by Iranian forces to seven. Hengaw had previously reported the killings of Ahmad Jalil, 21, and Sajjad Valamanesh, 28, both from Lordegan, as well as Dariush Ansari Bakhtiarwand from Fuladshahr and Amirhesam Khodayarifard from Kuhdasht. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-7

Hengaw - Dec 1, 2026
{Khodadad Shirvani killed by Iranian forces during protests in Marvdasht
Khodadad Shirvani, a Lor man, was killed after Iranian forces opened fire during protests in the city of Marvdasht, in Fars province. Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights indicates that Shirvani, 33, a father of two and a resident of Marvdasht, was fatally shot on the evening of Thursday, January 1, 2026. According to informed sources, he was struck at close range by shotgun pellets fired by Iranian forces. He was transferred to medical facilities but later died from his injuries. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-6


Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh
Hengaw - Dec 1, 2026
{Iranian state forces kill two protesters with live fire in Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province
Iranian state forces opened fire on protesters in the city of Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, killing at least two protesters identified as Ahmad Jalil, 21, and Sajjad Valamanesh, 28, both Lors from Lordegan. According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Jalil and Valamanesh were shot with live ammunition by government forces during public protests on Thursday, January 1, 2026, and later died from their injuries. Protests took place in several areas of Lordegan, including Municipality Square and in front of the Governorate building. Demonstrations were met with violent repression, including the use of tear gas and live ammunition by law enforcement forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. State-affiliated Fars News Agency has confirmed the killing of two individuals during the protests, though it has not released their identities or provided details regarding the circumstances of their deaths. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-5


Female students attacked
WNCRI - in Women's News - Jan 1, 2026
{Female Students Arrested at Melli University and University of Tehran; Protesting Women Pepper Sprayed in Isfahan
On the fourth day of the nationwide protests in Iran, on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the uprising entered a new phase, significantly featured by the growing convergence between popular demonstrations and the student movement. This convergence caused security forces to raid the dormitory of female students at the Melli University (Beheshti) and to arrest a large group of student activists.  
According to reports, at 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday night, December 31, plainclothes agents and security forces raided the women’s dormitory of Melli University in Tehran (Beheshti) and arrested at least three female students. Following the raid, large numbers of female and male students gathered outside the dormitory, chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Shameless, shameless” in protest against the arrests. The raid took place after female students had begun a nighttime gathering and demonstration within the dormitory compound. Security forces raid the women’s dormitory of Melli University on Wednesday night, December 31. Slides from a videoclip capturing the moment.
At the same time, as part of the ongoing wave of arrests at universities, Sarira Karimi, Secretary of (the Student Union) Council of the Faculty of Law and Political Science and a member of the Central Student Union Council of the University of Tehran, was also arrested on Wednesday. In Isfahan, security forces on Wednesday, December 31, attacked and pepper sprayed women protesters who were sitting on the floor in Naqsh-e Jahan Square.
Protesting women pepper sprayed in Isfahan
The violent crackdown on women protesters in Isfahan, alongside the arrest of female students at Melli University of Tehran (Beheshti) and the University of Tehran amid the intensification of nationwide protests, once again underscored the central role of women and female students in this uprising and highlighted the authorities’ deep fear of the growing linkage between these social forces and the broader nationwide protest movement. The fourth day of nationwide protests in Iran was marked by complete market shutdowns, street gatherings, explicit anti-dictatorship slogans, direct confrontations with security forces, and attacks on government centers from Tehran and Isfahan to Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Hamedan.} Source: https://wncri.org/2026/01/01/female-students-melli-university-beheshti/

Hengaw - Dec 1, 2026
{Hengaw: Iran kills protester Amirhesam Khodayarifard as state media promote “Basij” claim
Amid ongoing public protests in the city of Kuhdasht, Lorestan province, Amirhesam Khodayarifard, a local resident, was killed after being shot directly with live ammunition by Iranian forces. In the aftermath, state institutions and government-affiliated media outlets promoted a narrative portraying him as a “Basij member.” According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Khodayarifard, 22, was shot on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, while among protesters in Kuhdasht. He was transferred to medical facilities in Khorramabad, where he died several hours later due to the severity of his injuries. Informed sources and eyewitnesses told Hengaw that Khodayarifard was participating in public demonstrations when he was shot at close range in the head with a handgun by one of the Iranian forces. Shortly after the incident, state media and outlets affiliated with state  institutions published images of Khodayarifard and claimed that he was a “Basij member” who had allegedly been killed as a result of “violent actions by protesters.” However, video footage from the moment he was shot, along with eyewitness testimony provided to Hengaw, directly contradicts these claims and shows that he was among the protesters and was fatally wounded by direct gunfire from Iranian forces. Sources in Kuhdasht reported that since the previous day, the city’s governor, the Friday prayer leader, and government institutions, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have repeatedly visited the Khodayarifard family’s home to pressure them into publicly declaring their son a Basij member. According to these sources, the return of Khodayarifard’s body and permission to hold burial ceremonies have been made conditional on a televised admission by the family affirming this claim. Hengaw has also learned that as of Thursday, Kuhdasht has been placed under heavy security measures. Government institutions have issued warnings to activists and widely followed Telegram channels and Instagram pages, instructing them not to publish information regarding the circumstances of Khodayarifard’s killing. In previous years, Iranian authorities have repeatedly adopted similar practices during protest movements, combining the use of force with efforts to portray protesters killed by government forces as affiliates of state institutions. Human rights observers view this approach as an attempt to obscure responsibility for the killing of protesters and evade accountability.
Protests and strikes across Iran began on Sunday, December 28, 2025, following a sharp and unprecedented surge in foreign currency prices, including the U.S. dollar surpassing 1,450,000 rials, alongside a continued decline in the value of the national currency. These protests have been met with force by Iranian authorities. Source: Hengaw English}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-3

Hengaw - Dec 1, 2026
{State forces kill Dariush Ansari Bakhtiariwand with live fire in Fuladshahr, Isfahan Province
Repressive forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran fatally shot Dariush Ansari Bakhtiariwand, a Lor man from Fuladshahr in Isfahan Province, using live ammunition during the ongoing protests. According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Ansari Bakhtiariwand was struck by bullets fired from a Kalashnikov rifle on the evening of Wednesday, December 31, 2025. He lost his life before being transferred to a medical facility. The latest wave of protests and strikes in Iran began on Sunday, December 28, 2025, following a sharp rise in the value of foreign currencies — with the U.S. dollar surpassing 1,450,000 rials — which triggered severe economic shock and public outrage. Demonstrations have been met with excessive and violent force by state authorities. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-2

Hengaw - Dec 1, 2026
{At least 15 protesters arrested in several cities as protests continue in Iran
Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have arrested at least 15 protesters on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in connection with the ongoing December protests in several Iranian cities, including Dehloran, Yasuj, Nahavand, Asadabad, Shiraz, and Tehran. According to information received by the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, those arrested include individuals from various ethnic/national backgrounds and regions. Among them are a Turkish resident of Asadabad, a Lor man from Nahavand, and four Lor residents from Yasuj identified as Saleh Arjmand, Qasem Arjmand, Hossein Arjmand, and Milad Masoumi. Three Kurdish men from Dehloran named Abolfazl Shadfar, Ehsan Maleki, and Ali Asghar Salehi were also detained. In Shiraz, several protesters, including Zaker Amini, Ruhollah Mohseni, and Mohammadkarim Fazeli, along with two teachers identified as Hejabri and Nirumand, were arrested as well in Tehran, authorities detained student activist Sarira Karimi, Secretary of the Student Council at the University of Tehran’s Faculty of Law and Political Science and a member of the university’s Central Student Council. The five detainees arrested in Shiraz were released after several hours, while at least ten others remain in detention under unknown conditions. No information has been made available regarding the charges brought against them or their current locations. This wave of protests began on Sunday, December 28, 2025, following strikes and mass protest marches by Tehran bazaar merchants in response to worsening economic conditions, inflation, and rising living costs, before spreading to at least 22 cities across the country. Source: Hengaw}: https://hengaw.net/en/news/2025/12/article-173

Iranfocus - Jan 1, 2026 Jubin Katiraie
{Bazaar Protests Expand in Iran as Economic Demands Turn Become Political
The French daily newspaper Le Monde wrote in a report that the protests that have taken shape in Iran in recent days are directly linked to the sharp decline in the value of the rial and soaring prices and have now gone beyond purely economic demands. A distinguishing feature of this wave of protests is the active presence of bazaar merchants and segments of the core of the country’s economy, a group that usually plays a decisive role in economic and social stability. The newspaper emphasizes that unlike previous protests, which were mostly identified with the participation of students or elite groups, this time shopkeepers and small-scale economic actors are at the forefront of the protests, a development that experts say could carry more serious consequences for the ruling authorities. The report goes on to say that protesters’ slogans in cities have moved beyond economic demands and have clearly taken on a political tone. Le Monde wrote that direct confrontation with political leaders and opposition to the regional policies of the Iranian regime can be seen among the slogans, a sign of rising anger among the middle class and lower-income segments of society. The sharp decline in purchasing power, the staggering rise in food prices, and stagnant wages have put the daily lives of millions of Iranians under pressure. Under such conditions, many families have been forced to purchase basic necessities on installment plans. In the final part of the report, Le Monde does not limit the roots of the crisis solely to internal factors and also points to intensified international sanctions and the recent monetary policies of Iran’s Central Bank as contributing factors. According to the newspaper, some analysts believe these policies have benefited large exporters and institutions close to power more than importers and consumers. The report ultimately concludes that although some observers consider the immediate collapse of Iran’s political system unlikely, the depth of social discontent and the continuation of economic pressures have cast serious doubt over the country’s prospects for stability.} Source: https://iranfocus.com/iran/56561-bazaar-protests-expand-in-iran-as-economic-demands-turn-become-political/


Iranfocus - Jan 1, 2026 Esmaeil Mohades
{Contrary to Predictions, Protests in Iran Expanded After the 12-Day War
The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal, a major US daily newspaper, wrote in an article that contrary to the predictions of many experts who believed a military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities would lead to public solidarity with the ruling authorities, recent developments have shown a different trajectory. The article, published on the evening of Wednesday, December 31, states that only a few months after Israeli and US attacks during the 12-day war, various cities across Iran have witnessed street protests by citizens. The protests began among shopkeepers and merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar but gradually spread to other cities and social groups. Students have joined the protests, and truck and bus drivers have also expressed support. Economic demands are at the forefront of public discontent, including 42% inflation, a 40% decline in the value of the national currency against the dollar since the 12-day war, water shortages, and the lack of stable access to energy. Anti-government protests in Iran entered their fifth consecutive day on Thursday, January 1, 2026. In recent days, protesters have chanted slogans including “Death to the dictator,” calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
The president of Iran’s regime called for dialogue with protesters
Later in the article, The Wall Street Journal refers to protesters’ chants of “Death to the dictator” and “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran,” noting that economic protests can easily take on a political nature. As a result, the recent unrest is dangerous for the Iranian regime because deprivation exists on a broad scale. To curb inflation, the Iranian regime removed the head of the Central Bank as the “culprit” for the current economic situation, and Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran’s regime, made the unusual proposal of calling for dialogue with protesters. Trump should not be tempted by the mirage of an agreement with Iran. The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal wrote that as the scope of the protests has expanded, the regime’s repressive approach has once again intensified, with reports of a new wave of arrests and even live ammunition being used. If the protests become more widespread, there is a likelihood of increased repression. Referring to the increase in arrests and executions of citizens after the 12-day war, the newspaper added that this level of repression makes the continuation of the recent protests more striking and significant. The article states that all these developments provide an important opportunity for the United States to show its support for the people of Iran. Barack Obama made a mistake in 2009 when, due to his desire to reach a nuclear agreement with the ayatollahs, he remained silent in the face of the repression of protesters. The Wall Street Journal warned Donald Trump against being tempted by the mirage of an agreement with Tehran, writing that if the Islamic Republic truly wanted a deal, it could have returned to the negotiating table after the war. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to insist on enriching uranium on Iranian soil and is rapidly rebuilding its ballistic missile capabilities, which have the ability to target Israel or US bases. According to the article, the most important action the United States can take under current conditions is the “continuation of economic pressure on the regime,” which would require enforcing oil sanctions with a seriousness at least equal to half of the measures recently applied by the United States against Venezuela. The Iranian regime has been able to partially circumvent sanctions, to the extent that its oil exports have reached new records and risen to about two million barrels per day—a figure considered 20 times Washington’s stated target and one that effectively undermines Trump’s maximum pressure campaign. None of these developments necessarily means the immediate collapse of the government, although dictatorships often appear stable until the very end. The ayatollah relies on oil revenues to maintain the loyalty of commanders and to direct the weapons of the forces toward their own people. However, Western policy toward Iran, aimed at reaching a deal at any cost, has made the Iranian regime more reckless than ever in repressing protesters. Ultimately, what will bring about the overthrow of this government will not be a foreign war, but popular force.} Source: https://iranfocus.com/iran/56558-contrary-to-predictions-protests-in-iran-expanded-after-the-12-day-war/

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