Eurasia Press & News
HRANA- Protests and strikes in various cities across Iran entered their eighth day. An assessment of updated and verified data indicates that despite intensified security measures, increased deployment of law enforcement and security forces, and the continuation of on-the-ground crackdowns in some areas, the geographical spread of the protests has been maintained, and various forms of protest actions continue in different parts of the country. Over the past eight days, at least 222 locations in 78 cities across 26 provinces have witnessed protests. During these events, at least 990 citizens have been arrested, and at least 19 protesters have lost their lives.
Protests that initially began with strikes and labor and trade gatherings have continued into the eighth consecutive day, taking the form of street demonstrations, limited sectoral actions, and student protests at some universities.
Background of the Protests
The protests emerged in a context where economic pressures on broad segments of society have reached a critical stage, and clear signs of disruption in the cycle of daily livelihoods are visible. Repeated surges in exchange rates, prolonged market instability, and the continuous decline in purchasing power have darkened and rendered unpredictable the economic outlook for households and trade activists alike, turning financial insecurity into a widespread experience.
In the days leading up to the start of the protests, reports indicated that exchange rates had crossed new thresholds, alongside a downturn in the capital market and capital outflows. Analysts have interpreted this trend as a shift of liquidity toward safer markets such as gold and foreign currency, and a decline in public trust in economic policies. At the grassroots level, the consequences have included the closure or partial shutdown of trade units, increasing difficulty in sustaining small businesses, and the spread of protest and strike waves in various cities, protests rooted not in a single short-term factor, but in the long-term accumulation of livelihood pressures and the erosion of hope for improved conditions.
Geography of the Protests
According to updated and aggregated information, over the past eight days at least 222 locations across Iran have witnessed protests, street demonstrations, or labor and trade strikes. These protests have been reported in a total of 26 provinces, and during this period, 17 universities have also seen student protest activities.
Over the past 24 hours alone, at least 20 cities, including Shiraz, Zarqan, Qazvin, Joveyn, Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Behbahan, Karaj, Sureshjan, Sari, Tehran, Gachsaran, Mahallat, Khorramabad, Shahroud, Likak, Hafshejan, Dorud, Marvdasht, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Saman, Yasuj, Nurabad-e Mamasani, Mashhad, Mehdi Shahr (Sangsar), Lahijan, Mashkan, Rudsar, Neyshabur, and Bushehr, have experienced street protests, protest gatherings, labor strikes, student demonstrations, as well as the imposition of heightened security atmospheres in some areas.
An examination of the geographical distribution of the protests shows that these activities have not been limited to major metropolitan centers, but have also encompassed smaller cities and various regions across the country, indicating the horizontal spread of the protests and the participation of diverse social groups in this wave of dissent.
Forms of Protest and Slogans
A review of verified videos and reports shows that the eighth day of protests, similar to previous days, lacked a single unifying محور and encompassed a wide range of demands. Slogans chanted at gatherings ranged from livelihood and economic grievances to criticism of governance practices, restrictions on individual and social freedoms, and calls for justice.
Within the framework of its human rights mandate, HRANA focuses its reporting on slogans and demands that are directly related to violations of, or calls for, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and civil rights. The persistence of these demands across different parts of the country reflects the depth of public discontent and the overlap of economic, social, and political grievances within the current protest movement.
Conduct of Law Enforcement-Security Forces and Details of Violence
On the eighth day of nationwide protests, reports and published videos continued to point to a prevailing security atmosphere and the use of repressive measures by law enforcement and security forces to prevent the formation or spread of protest gatherings. Images released from various cities show violent crackdown, gunfire, the use of tear gas, and the arrest of protesters.
Meanwhile, state broadcaster IRIB aired a video of a forced confession by a citizen accused of setting fire to one of the agents—footage whose recording conditions remain unclear.
In addition, official accounts provided by local authorities regarding some of the fatalities have been met with skepticism by eyewitnesses and contradicted by unofficial reports. Details surrounding these deaths remain under review and subject to further verification.
Fatalities and Injuries
According to updated information from HRANA, the deaths of at least 20 people during the eight days of protests have been confirmed. One of the deceased was affiliated with law enforcement-security forces. At least 51 cases of citizen injuries have also been recorded so far, most of them resulting from pellet and plastic bullets.
Supplementing reports from previous days, new field investigations by this human rights organization confirm the deaths of Reza Azimzadeh, Mehdi Emami-Pour, Latif Karimi, Soroush Soleimani, Rasoul Kadiourian, Reza Kadiourian, Hossein Rabiei, and Amir Mohammad Kouhkan.
HRANA has also received concerning reports of the beating of Nasser Rezaei Ahangarany, a lawyer, by security forces on Saturday evening, January 3, during protests in Khorramabad.
Separately, Kurdpa News Agency, which covers developments in Kurdish regions, reported that at least 30 people were injured during protests in Malekshahi the previous day.
Arrests
Over the past eight days of protests, at least 990 protesting citizens have been arrested, although the actual number of detainees is estimated to be significantly higher.
Individual arrests with confirmed identities on the eighth day:
1. Full name: Salman Mardani
Place of arrest: Dehloran
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
2. Full name: Pouria Aliyari, student
Place of arrest: Esfarayen
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
3. Full name: Parsa Loghmani, student
Place of arrest: Babol
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Released
4. Full name: Erfan Dehghani Iraj
Place of arrest: Tehran
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Released
5. Full name: Asghar Shakeri
Place of arrest: Mashhad
Date of arrest: December 31, 2025
Current status: Detained
6. Full name: Fariba Hosseini
Place of arrest: Shiraz
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
7. Full name: Javad Soltani Kalateh
Place of arrest: Sabzevar
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
8. Full name: Abolfazl Imani, 17-year-old minor
Place of arrest: Sabzevar
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
9. Full name: Saeed Shiei, 17-year-old minor
Place of arrest: Sabzevar
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
10. Full name: Jalal Lotfi
Place of arrest: Sabzevar
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
11. Full name: Ali Amanabadi
Place of arrest: Neyshabur
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
12. Full name: Zahra Izadi Nia
Place of arrest: Yasuj
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
13. Full name: Hasti Ghorbani, 16-year-old minor
Place of arrest: Mashhad
Date of arrest: Unknown
Current status: Detained
14. Full name: Alireza Yazdani
Place of arrest: Tehran
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
15. Full name: Mahan Mohammadi
Place of arrest: Tehran
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
16. Full name: Sajad Ravad
Place of arrest: Behbahan
Date of arrest: January 4, 2026
Current status: Detained
17. Full name: Shahrokh Shojaei
Place of arrest: Behbahan
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
18. Full name: Abolfazl Tayebi
Place of arrest: Behbahan
Date of arrest: January 1, 2026
Current status: Detained
19. Full name: Sina Dehdashti, 16-year-old minor
Place of arrest: Behbahan
Date of arrest: January 1, 2026
Current status: Detained
20. Full name: Artin Estadayan, 16-year-old minor
Place of arrest: Behbahan
Date of arrest: January 1, 2026
Current status: Released after submission of a salary slip
21. Full name: Saber Vafaian-Nejad, 15-year-old minor
Place of arrest: Behbahan
Date of arrest: January 1, 2026
Current status: Detained
22. Full name: Maryam Zarei
Place of arrest: Yazd
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
23. Full name: Sara Nosrati, 17-year-old minor
Place of arrest: Yazd
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
24. Full name: Reyhaneh Zarei
Place of arrest: Yazd
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
25. Full name: Farzaneh Golestani
Place of arrest: Yazd
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
26. Full name: Ahmadreza Khosravi, minor
Place of arrest: Shushtar
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
27. Full name: Emad Ghorbani, minor
Place of arrest: Shushtar
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
28. Full name: Sajad Khorshidi
Place of arrest: Ilam
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
29. Full name: Abolfazl Saki
Place of arrest: Ilam
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
30. Full name: Alireza Momeni
Place of arrest: Ilam
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
31. Full name: Alireza Momeni, student
Place of arrest: Ilam
Date of arrest: January 4, 2026
Current status: Detained
32. Full name: Faizeh Rashidi
Place of arrest: Badreh
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
33. Full name: Siroos Azarmehr
Place of arrest: Isfahan
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
34. Full name: Saman Shahamat
Place of arrest: Isfahan
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
35. Full name: Payam Aminzadeh
Place of arrest: Isfahan
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
36. Full name: Siroos Javidy
Place of arrest: Isfahan
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
37. Full name: Fatemeh Zarei
Place of arrest: Mashhad
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
38. Full name: Elaheh Khazaei
Place of arrest: Shahriar
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
39. Full name: Setayesh Khazaei
Place of arrest: Shahriar
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
40. Full name: Nazanin Khazaei
Place of arrest: Shahriar
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
41. Full name: Mehdi Hasanpour
Place of arrest: Neqab
Date of arrest: January 4, 2026
Current status: Detained
42. Full name: Negar (Aram) Iranmanesh
Place of arrest: Yasuj
Date of arrest: January 4, 2026
Current status: Detained
43. Full name: Pouya Naderi
Place of arrest: Abdanan
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
44. Full name: Abdollah Ahmadi
Place of arrest: Abdanan
Date of arrest: January 4, 2026
Current status: Detained
45. Full name: Mehdi Sheikhi
Place of arrest: Abdanan
Date of arrest: January 4, 2026
Current status: Detained
46. Full name: Amir Eisa Zadeh
Place of arrest: Darreh Shahr
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
47. Full name: Mohammad Bashir Hashemian
Place of arrest: Darreh Shahr
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
48. Full name: Mehdi Hashemian
Place of arrest: Darreh Shahr
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
49. Full name: Ahmad Hasanvand Amouzadeh
Place of arrest: Darreh Shahr
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
50. Full name: Bahador Amouzadeh
Place of arrest: Darreh Shahr
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
51. Full name: Ahmad Haqnazari
Place of arrest: Sarableh
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
52. Full name: Reza Bagheri Nejad
Place of arrest: Sarableh
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
53. Full name: Shahin Qasr Beigi
Place of arrest: Sarableh
Date of arrest: January 4, 2026
Current status: Detained
54. Full name: Salal Sadeghi
Place of arrest: Shabab
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
55. Full name: Iraj Rostami Mehr
Place of arrest: Shabab
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
56. Full name: Samyar Motallebi, student
Place of arrest: Tehran
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
57. Full name: Ramin Pourasal, student
Place of arrest: Tehran
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
58. Full name: Ehsan Masoudi, student
Place of arrest: Tehran
Date of arrest: Recent days
Current status: Detained
59. Full name: Meysam Behzadi
Place of arrest: Kermanshah
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
60. Full name: Ehsan Hayati
Place of arrest: Kermanshah
Date of arrest: January 1, 2026
Current status: Detained
61. Full name: Mohammad Ziyadi
Place of arrest: Kermanshah
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
62. Full name: Rahim Mohammadvali
Place of arrest: Hersin
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
63. Full name: Ali Cheraghi
Place of arrest: Hersin
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
64. Full name: Milad Alibeygi
Place of arrest: Hersin
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: Detained
65. Full name: Saeed Darvishi
Place of arrest: Eslamabad-e Gharb
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
66. Full name: Yousef Salkhordeh
Place of arrest: Gilan-e Gharb
Date of arrest: January 3, 2026
Current status: Detained
67. Full name: Delaram Kazemi
Place of arrest: Gilan-e Gharb
Date of arrest: January 2, 2026
Current status: ReleasedGroup Arrests or Arrests Without Confirmed Identities (Eighth Day)
• Arrest of several individuals in Yazd, detained for activity on social media
• Arrest of one individual in Marlik, Malard, presented as a “leader of the protests”
• Arrest of one individual in Shiraz’s Maali Abad neighborhood, detained after being beaten by security forces
• Arrest of four citizens in Qazvin, described as “instigators of the protests”
• Arrest of several protesters in Zanjan, labeled as “agents of unrest”
• Arrest of 71 individuals, including one woman, in Yazd over recent days
• Arrest of 30 individuals on the previous night in Jafarabad neighborhood, Kermanshah
• Arrest of 150 individuals in Isfahan and their transfer to the city’s prison
• Arrest of 24 individuals in Shiraz and their transfer to Adelabad Prison
• Arrest of three individuals in Shiraz and Tehran
• Arrest of one individual in Rezvanshahr
• Arrest of 30 individuals in BehbahanInternational Reactions
The escalation of violence and repression in Iran has also sparked international concern. In a statement quoted from its spokesperson, the European Union’s External Action Service expressed concern over violence against Iranian protesters and called on Iran’s security forces to exercise restraint in dealing with participants in peaceful demonstrations. The statement described the protests as “reflecting the demands of many Iranians” and emphasized that developments across Iran are being closely monitored. It further stated: “We are concerned by reports of deaths and injuries and call on Iranian security forces to show maximum restraint in responding to peaceful protests. Authorities have acknowledged socio-economic challenges, and addressing these challenges must take place through inclusive dialogue, not violence.”
A diplomatic source at France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing regret over the killing of protesters, called for full transparency and for Iran to respect its international commitments.
Amnesty International Australia called for an immediate halt to violence, the release of political prisoners, an end to executions, and a stop to the use of lethal weapons against protesters.
The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, in a statement published on Friday, January 3, declared solidarity with protesters in Iran and called for an immediate end to the violent suppression of protests, accountability regarding those killed, injured, and detained, and respect for the right to protest and freedom of expression.
Domestic (Governmental) Reactions
Today, the commander of Iran’s national police (FARAJA) announced that what he described as “targeted arrests of leaders” had begun over the past two nights. Ahmadreza Radan claimed that those arrested were accused of inciting citizens and receiving foreign currency in exchange for their actions.
Meanwhile, official media and channels affiliated with security institutions continue to describe protests in various cities as “riots,” accusing protesters of ties to foreign actors and opposition groups. This narrative, presented without clear evidence, seeks to deny the livelihood-based and protest-driven nature of citizens’ demands and attribute the protests to external interference.
Mohammad Ja’far Montazeri, head of Iran’s Supreme Court, said the recent protests were unrelated to the will of the people and dismissed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding support for the Iranian people as ineffective. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of parliament’s National Security Commission, warned the United States that any action would result in its regional interests being targeted. Qassem Ravanbakhsh, a member of parliament from Qom, described Trump’s support for protesters as foreign interference and rejected it. In contrast, Ahmad Naderi, a member of parliament’s presidium, assessed the protests as stemming from runaway inflation and economic mismanagement by the government. At the same time, the police commander of Yazd Province reported the identification and arrest of administrators of several social media pages linked to the protests.
The Iran Reform Front reacted to the recent protests, stating that the government’s approach of avoiding violence and listening to protesters’ voices is a positive—though insufficient—step toward rebuilding public trust. It emphasized that the protests in Iran have entirely domestic roots and can only be pursued through peaceful means.
Ali Rabiei, the president’s social affairs aide, said in response to the protests: “Iran today stands at one of the most complex junctures in its history, a moment shaped not only by external pressures, but by the accumulation of economic imbalances, erosion of social capital, and policy mistakes over past decades.”
Finally, the Workers’ House of Iran, in a statement reacting to the protests, declared that the people of Iran have the right to protest their livelihood and economic conditions, and that this right is legitimate, legal, and social. It added that workers across the country have repeatedly raised their demands in professional and peaceful ways.
Domestic Reactions (Civil Society, Trade Groups, and Public Figures)
The Kermanshah Bar Association, in a statement responding to the popular protests, described the purpose of governments and political, administrative, and military institutions as “serving the interests of the people” in areas such as the economy, security, healthcare, and education. It emphasized that despite nearly five decades since the revolution, the Islamic Republic has failed to achieve a large portion of these objectives. The statement said that Iran has, over these years, become a “poor and isolated” country, and that the “widespread poverty and misery of the people,” alongside the “expansion of corruption,” are clear signs of the inefficiency of the governing system. The Hersin Teachers’ Association also issued a statement supporting the protests, declaring that under current conditions, no option remains other than street protests.
Separately, the Hersin Teachers’ Association reiterated its support for the protests, stating that there is no alternative but to take to the streets.
Labor organizations, retirees’ groups, and social associations, in a joint reaction to the protests, said in a statement that runaway inflation has broken the backs of the majority of the population. Wages and salaries that fall below the poverty line and the cost-of-living basket, privatization, repression, imprisonment, executions, and war-driven policies have pushed people’s lives to the brink of collapse. Society has reached a boiling point, and nationwide protests are a direct reflection of this critical situation.
The Islam Abad-e Gharb Teachers’ Association, expressing support for the protests, stated that given the livelihood problems facing working and retired teachers and various segments of society under the current dire economic conditions, it fully supports the rightful protests of different social groups across the country and will stand alongside them.
A number of male and female athletes, including members of national teams and club teams, also voiced their support for the popular protests through public messages.
Conclusion
The ongoing protests, which began at Tehran’s bazaar, have entered their eighth day marked by geographical expansion, increased public participation, and an intensified presence of security forces. The combination of livelihood and political demands, rising arrests, and authorities’ attempts to simultaneously manage the crisis through economic and security measures highlight the state’s heightened sensitivity to the continuation of these protests.
HRANA continues to collect, verify, and complete information related to these protests and will publish follow-up reports should the demonstrations continue or expand.
