Protests in Iran increase

[Ihatetomatoes]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg7y0579lp8o.amp

"It was the 12th consecutive day of unrest that has been sparked by anger over the collapse of the Iranian currency and has spread to more than 100 cities and towns across all 31 of Iran's provinces, according to human rights groups.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) has said at least 34 protesters - five of them children - and eight security personnel have been killed, and that 2,270 other protesters have been arrested.

Norway-based monitor Iran Human Rights (IHR) has said at least 45 protesters, including eight children, have been killed by security forces.

BBC Persian has confirmed the deaths and identities of 22 people, while Iranian authorities have reported the deaths of six security personnel."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/clyzjn0w9l2t

The leadership in Iran weakened and people are more willing to protest.

"Series of setbacks
The 12-day war in the summer of 2025 between Iran and Israel marked a turning point. The conflict culminated in direct US involvement, including air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities."

The war severely damaged Iran's defence capacity, nuclear infrastructure, and several military and industrial sites.

At the same time, Iran's broader regional position has deteriorated. The fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria deprived Tehran of a key ally, while sustained Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon eliminated much of the group's senior leadership.

More recently, US operations in Venezuela and snatching of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have further narrowed Iran's options abroad.

These developments have reshaped the regional and international environment for Tehran. Iran now has fewer allies to rely on in regional conflicts and fewer channels to move oil revenues overseas.

This is particularly significant given Iran's heavy involvement in Venezuela's oil sector alongside Russia, and its reliance on complex financial arrangements linked to markets believed to be in China.

The disruption of these networks has increased Iran's economic vulnerability at a time of mounting internal pressure.

Against this backdrop, Iran's aging supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, appears to be facing one of the most uncertain moments of his rule.

More than three decades of careful planning to build regional proxy forces, sanction-evasion mechanisms, and nuclear infrastructure have been undermined or destroyed in a relatively short period of time

This is potentially momentous and despite the crackdown on the media and internet I hope more footage emerges. I am worried about how many people are dting, being injured, detained or being tortured in these protests and I commend the bravery of those taking part.

I also hope the coverage of the events in Iran aren't limited by biased news organisations where the overthrow of a horrendous Islamic regime doesn't for their narrative and want to avoid risk of offending Muslims by over rejoicing in the removal of a theocrqcy.

The comparison with the footage from Gaza in terms of volume of news and time is quite obvious and if we get into a situation where there are more people being killed in Iran than Gaza currently (which is a distinct possibility now the Gaza war has subsided) then I hope people call this out and we can the see the truth of the 'no Jews no news trope'.

I hope actually to see protestors in support of the Iranian people here calling for the fall of the clerics but I somehow think even if they do occur the numbers will be small. As suspected the mass protests we have seen in our cities are more anti Jew than pro Palestinian.

So far we see little concern for the Iranian people and in particular the protesters on MN with the usually vocal posters on this board remaining silent.

The internet blackout is particularly sinister. As I said on the other thread, there is a report from an anonymous doctor in Tehran that 217 protester deaths - “most by live ammunition” - have been recorded across just 6 hospitals.

It’s beginning to look like the US could intervene as the protests continue amidst more fighting talk from the Iranian leadership.

Let's hope the US intervene to save lives and given Trump's statements there is now a moral reason for this. The US military has just proven its ability and we can but wait.

I think Starmer should be a hell of a lot bolder in welcoming any threat to this Islamist regime and his reticence is in comparison with the bravery of those marching unarmed against the revolutionary guard.

I guess those that purport to support the people of Palestine will be blinkered when it comes to details of the murder of innocents in Iran. There will be even those that think the protesters traitors......

I'm shocked but not surprised how little interest there is on MN for this considering the volume of posts on Gaza.
Iran being the backers of Hamas and Hezbollah, not to mention funding terrorism throughout Europe. I guess it doesn't suit the popular narrative.

I've been watching on X where there's been some interesting commentary, I notice the BBC is now running it as headlines. I confess to having been ignorant of the Iran - Venezuela connection as explained very well by Tom Tugendhat this week.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/10/iran-protesters-tell-of-brutal-police-response-deaths-and-forced-confessions

This is terrible....hope Trump is good to hos word.

The Iranian people are something else. The bravery they are showing is incredible. They risk their lives going out onto the streets night after night. Ordinary people just want to live in safety and stability.

It’s bizarre how little attention this is getting. Some people have mused that because a regime collapse would benefit Israel then that doesn’t suit those who oppose Israel. Innocent people are being murdered on the streets of Iran. If they fail to topple the regime the people will face repercussions from the regime.
The pro-pal protestors in my country are more interested in protesting outside US embassy because of Mandaro while Venezuelans are outside the US embassy celebrating.

Honestly the world is crazy right now. Really hope Iranians get their country back from regime and get to live in peace and prosperity like they should same for everyone else living under oppressive regimes.

the protesters on MN with the usually vocal posters on this board remaining silent.

I'm shocked but not surprised how little interest there is on MN for this considering the volume of posts on Gaza.

I guess those that purport to support the people of Palestine will be blinkered when it comes to details of the murder of innocents in Iran

It seems in very poor taste to use the pain of people in Iran make passive aggressive digs at people who disagree with Isreal's actions.

I really hope the Iranian people can be freed from the regime that persecutes them. They’re all very brave to take to the streets and I do hope the leaders give up and fly out to Moscow or wherever will take them.

I wish we knew more about what is happening.

Scouring social media for the smallest bits of information.

There are rumours of high ups planning to flee to Russia, but who knows if this is true or not.

I also read that Starlink is involved in trying to provide Internet. Again, true?

I remember the Iran of the 70s and the revolution when Ayatollah Khomenei came to power.

I hope to see the demise of the regime and the people of Iran able to live in freedom.

Really glad to see a thread on this. I commented on a thread about lack of media coverage about how utterly consequential this is. Even if the Iranian regime doesn’t fall it’s only a matter of time once they lose access to Venezuelan passports, shadow banking, weapons manufacturing sites.

God bless the Iranians, they are so brave. I’ve seen claims of them setting fire to mosques (basij centres). A free Iran would be a force for good in the world. I really hope this works, a crackdown if the protesters lose will be horrific.

Their foreign minister appears to have dropped his family off in Lebanon and french newspapers have reported that regime figures have been asking for visas. Not sure how much of that is heresay.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9rengvnp9o

What I find striking is that in the face of such massacres we had maybe 500 people protesting in London which is a miniscule amount compared to the pro Palestinian marches. When an Islamic regime is murdering its own people there is tumbleweed from the oh so virtuous Palestinian supporters. No Gary Lineker tweets, no calls to ban Iran from sports, no concerts in support of the Iranian people. It's saddening.

This horrible episode highlights how much anti semitism and hatred for the Jewish people was motivator for marches we have had in this country.

Everyone should be rooting for the people of Iran to overthrow their authoritarian leadership, regardless of their stance on other conflicts.

Apparently the widespread protests continue. It’s looking promising in one way, but worrying in another. Brave people in Iran will be getting killed for protesting.

US Senator Lindsey Graham sent a message to the people of Iran overnight that their “bravery and determination to end your oppression” has been “noticed” by the US President and “help is on the way”.

Source: BBC.

Several of the dead are children. You'd think that would bring the protestors out onto the street with 'baby killer' placards, wouldn't you?

Iran sickenly labels innocents in the streets of Tehran as terrorists and the perpetrators of October 7th heroes. Would be lovely if this warped regime fell......

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202601054803#202601119047

jK Rowling calls it as it is.......fair play.

JK Rowling on X: If you claim to support human rights yet can’t bring yourself to show solidarity with those fighting for their liberty in Iran, you’ve revealed yourself. You don’t give a damn about people being oppressed and brutalised so long as it’s being done by the enemies of your enemies.

I really hope they get some relief soon.

I think this whole thing just exposes the moral void at the centre of a lot of the left these days. These brave people are out protesting against people with weapons using just sheer numbers and a few molotov cocktails.

The domino effect from the 7th October is truly extraordinary, we may see the collapse of terror in large swathes of the middle east. Wonder what will happen to Hezbollah. Just checked with chatgpt (i know i know) and estimates from 200 mill to 700mil a year (range goes from direct support to broader support, training etc).

Doesn't this make you feel good we live in the fortunate position of being in a country that allows free speech. We can protest in London freely but those in Tehran are being labelled enemies of God and threatened with death sentences. Something to reflect on.

200 mill to 700 mill of what @Bringemout ?

Enemies of God indeed!

What makes him a mouthpiece for God? ( the Iranian minister who said it).
(assuming God even exists which is a different debate).