Additional Coverage:
New Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Iran Following Memorials for Crackdown Victims
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Fresh anti-government protests have reportedly commenced in Iran, with university students in Tehran and Mashhad demonstrating on Sunday around memorials for the thousands killed in a previous crackdown six weeks ago.
According to Iran’s state news agency, students gathered at five universities in the capital, Tehran, and one in Mashhad. These scattered protests began on Saturday, coinciding with the traditional 40-day mourning period (known as “Arbaeen” for some religious observances) for those who lost their lives in anti-government rallies in January.
The Iranian government has yet to issue a statement regarding these latest demonstrations.
Many Iranians have observed the 40-day mourning period over the past week. Activists tracking the situation believe most of the fatalities occurred around January 8th and 9th.
The nation continues to grapple with the profound shock, grief, and fear stemming from the earlier protests, which were met with the deadliest crackdown ever witnessed under the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Thousands were reportedly killed, and tens of thousands are believed to have been arrested.
While the severe crackdown largely suppressed the most extensive protests, smaller demonstrations persist, as reported by protesters and evidenced in videos circulated on social media.
Historically, during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, 40-day memorials for slain protesters frequently escalated into larger rallies that security forces attempted to quell, often resulting in further casualties. These new deaths would then be marked 40 days later, fueling a cycle of renewed protests.
Social media posts from Saturday and Sunday allege that security forces attempted to prevent individuals from attending some of these 40-day ceremonies.
These new protests unfold as Iran prepares for potential U.S. military action. The Trump administration is intensifying pressure on Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program and other contentious issues, leading to the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East in decades.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that at least 7,015 individuals were killed in the previous protests and subsequent crackdown, a figure that includes 214 government forces. HRANA has a verifiable track record in accurately counting casualties during previous periods of unrest in Iran, relying on an extensive network of activists within the country to confirm deaths.
Despite disruptions to communication within the Islamic Republic, HRANA continues to cross-reference information, indicating a rising death toll.
The Iranian government offered its sole official death toll from the previous protests on January 21st, stating that 3,117 people were killed. Historically, the Iranian theocracy has been known to underreport or omit fatalities from past unrest.
The Associated Press has been unable to independently verify the death toll due to authorities disrupting internet access and international calls within Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Friday that limited strikes against Iran remain a possibility, even as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated Tehran anticipates having a proposed deal ready in the coming days, following indirect nuclear talks with the United States.
The deployment of additional U.S. warships and aircraft, including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, does not guarantee a U.S. strike on Iran but significantly enhances President Trump’s capacity to execute such an action should he choose to.