At least 18 dead in Iran following crackdown on popular protests

1. Developments in Iran – January 3, 2026

Determined citizens, responding directly to threats made earlier in the morning by the regime's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, took to the streets chanting “Death to Khamenei” and “This year will be a year of blood! Seyyed Ali will be overthrown!”

A short video summary of the protests in Iran – Day 7 (nighttime rallies on January 3) is available here:

https://x.com/Mojahedineng/status/2007733429417456030

The main organized opposition force in Iran, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), has released the names of ten more martyrs of the national uprising who fell in the struggle for freedom. The number of identified martyrs now stands at eighteen (see below).

On Saturday, January 3, forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) committed an act of extreme brutality in Malekshahi, in the province of Ilam, by opening fire on protesters and killing or wounding many defenseless civilians. Four martyrs have been identified to date. According to information from Malekshahi Hospital, the wounded are facing a critical blood shortage.

Developments in Iran – January 3, 2026

• Protests took place in Nizamabad and Tehran, with fires lit in the streets and roads blocked.
• Protests took place in Haft-Hoz, Narmak (Tehran), with chants of “Death to the dictator” and clashes with the repressive police after the use of tear gas.
• Protests in Naziabad, Tehran.
• Protests broke out in Tehran-Pars, accompanied by clashes with the repressive police forces.
• Demonstrations in the Coca-Cola neighborhood of Tehran.
• Slogans such as “Death to Khamenei,” “Death to the Guards,” and “Death to the dictator” echoed in different neighborhoods of Tehran.
• Demonstrations took place in Amol, with slogans proclaiming: “Until the mullah is buried, this country will not become a homeland.” "
• The burning of an effigy of Qassem Soleimani in Delijan.
• Protests broke out in Harsin, leading to clashes with repressive police and live ammunition being fired at protesters.
• Security forces opened fire on protesters in Parand, injuring several people.
• In the dormitory of Khajeh Nasir University, students chanted: "You are our Basij, the army of ISIS, and this year, Seyyed Ali's house will be demolished. “
• Protests took place in Mashhad, with slogans such as ”Death to the dictator“ and ”Until the mullah is buried, this homeland will not become a homeland.“
• Other protests in Mashhad displayed the slogan: ”This year is the year that Seyyed Ali's house will be overthrown."
• Demonstrations in Zanjan, with slogans such as “Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we are all together.”
• Eqlid, in Fars province, with the slogan “Iran, support with zeal.”
• Demonstrations took place in Vahdatiyeh, in Bushehr province, with slogans chanting “Death to Khamenei!” “
• Protests took place in Kermanshah, where repressive police opened fire on demonstrators.
• Popular protests in Jafarabad, Kermanshah.
• Protests in Hamedan, with slogans ”Death to the dictator!“
• Students protest at Shiraz University, chanting ”Freedom, freedom, freedom!" “
• Images from Amir Kabir Street in Shiraz show protesters sitting on the ground in front of the repressive forces, blocking their progress.
• Protests took place in Hafeshjan, with chants proclaiming: ”This year is the year of the overthrow of the house of Seyyed Ali.“

• Protests took place in Ilam, with slogans such as ”Death to Khamenei“ and ”Death to the dictator.“
• Further protests took place in Malekshahi, in the province of Ilam, with slogans such as ”Death to the dictator,“ ”Death to Khamenei,“ and ”Don't be afraid, we are all together."
  • In Malekshahi, security forces opened fire on young protesters. According to initial reports, several people were killed or wounded. Images show the bodies of two martyrs being carried by residents, while many wounded civilians remain hospitalized and urgent calls for blood donations are being made.
• Protests took place in Yazd, where security forces fired on demonstrators.
• Repressive police opened fire on protesters in Kazerun.
• Protests took place in Arak, with slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and street fires.
• Protests in Yasuj were marked by clashes with repressive forces and exchanges of live ammunition.
• Protests broke out in Zarqan, in the province of Fars, leading to clashes between protesters and regime agents.
• Protests took place in Qazvin, with slogans such as “As long as the mullah is not buried, this homeland will not be a homeland."
• Residents of Kazerun gathered in Martyrs' Square, where security forces opened fire on the crowd.
• Young protesters blocked roads in the Golshan district of Shiraz, burning tires.
• Students at Shahrood University of Technology reaffirmed their determination with the slogan, “Students are dying, they will not accept humiliation.”
• Students at the Hemmat dormitory of Allameh University in Tehran chanted the slogan, “Death to the dictator!” "

Here are the names of the eighteen honorable martyrs of the uprising:

1. Dariush Ansari Bakhtiarvand (37), from Fouladshahr (Isfahan), died on December 31, 2025

2. Amir Hesam Khodayari Fard, 26, from Kuhdasht (Lorestan), December 31, 2025.

3. Sajjad Valamanesh Zilayi, 28, from Lordegan (Shaharmahal and Bakhtiari), January 1, 2026.

4. Ahmad Jalil, 21, from Lordegan (Shahr-e Kord), January 1, 2026.

5. Shayan Asadollahi, 30, from Azna (Lorestan), January 1, 2026.

6. Mostafa Fallahi (15), from Azna (Lorestan), January 1, 2026.

7. Vahab Ghaedi (Mousavi), 30, from Azna, Lorestan, January 1, 2026.

8. Khodadad Shirvani (37) from Marvdasht (Fars), January 1, 2026.

9. Ahmadreza Amani (27) from Azna (Lorestan), January 1, 2026.

10. Mansour Mokhtari from Marvdasht (Fars), January 1, 2026.

11. Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli (35) from Nurabad (Delfan, Lorestan), January 1, 2026.

12. Ali Azizi Jafarabadi (42) from Harsin (Kermanshah), January 2, 2026

13. Amir Hossein Bayati, 35, from Hamedan, January 2, 2026.

14. Hossein Rabiei from Qom, January 2, 2026.

15. Mohammad Moghaddasi (Bazouneh) from Malekshahi (Ilam), January 3, 2026.

16. Farez Agha Mohammadi (Fars), from Malekshahi (Ilam), January 3, 2026

17. Mehdi Emami Pour from Malekshahi (Ilam), January 3, 2026.

18. Reza Azimzadeh, from Malekshahi, Ilam, January 3, 2026.