2026/01/02U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez Backs Iran Protests, Says Islamic Republic Belongs in “Ash Heap of History”
U.S. Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez said he supports the Iranian people protesting the Islamic Republic and argued the regime should be relegated to the “ ash heap of history ,” in comments posted on X. His statement adds to a growing chorus of Western political figures publicly aligning with protesters, even as Tehran continues to denounce foreign “interference” and warns against outside involvement. X (formerly Twitter)+1
2026/01/02Protesters Light Fires in Kuhdasht’s Qods Square as Night Unrest Continues, Iran International Reports
Iran International said videos it received show protesters lighting fires in parts of Qods Square in Kuhdasht (Lorestan) on the evening of Friday, January 2, 2026 (12 Dey) . The footage is presented as on-the-ground reporting from the protest scene; independent verification of the exact location and timing may be limited in real time.
2026/01/02Khorramabad Clashes Intensify as Protesters Build Barricades, Iran International Reports
Iran International said videos received from Khorramabad (Lorestan) show security forces clashing with protesters on the evening of Friday, January 2, 2026 (12 Dey) . The footage appears to show residents building street barricades to resist security advances—an escalation in street-level tactics that can increase the risk of heavier crowd-control measures and wider arrests. The videos and full circumstances cannot be independently verified in real time.
2026/01/02UK Conservative Leader Badenoch Backs Iran Protesters, Calls Regime a Threat to Britain
UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she stands with Iranians “risking everything for freedom,” writing on X that protesters challenging a “despotic and oppressive” system are “a beacon of hope,” while accusing Tehran of denying basic liberties at home and “exporting terrorism and instability” that threatens the UK and its allies. The statement comes as Iran’s unrest entered its sixth day , with fresh demonstrations reported after Friday prayers in Zahedan and chants including “Death to the dictator,” according to witnesses cited in regional coverage.
2026/01/02Gunfire Heard Across Kermanshah During Protest Gatherings, Iran International Says
A video shared with Iran International appears to capture the sound of gunfire across Kermanshah as protesters gathered in the city, according to the outlet’s report. The footage itself cannot be independently verified in real time, but it adds to a broader pattern of escalating security responses reported in several protest-hit areas.
2026/01/02Masih Alinejad Urges Trump Not to Pursue a “Big Deal” With Tehran While Protests Intensify
Iranian human-rights activist Masih Alinejad said President Donald Trump’s choices at this moment are “decisive,” arguing the U.S. should not repeat what she described as the Obama-era mistake of overlooking Iranian protesters in favor of seeking a major agreement with Tehran. Her comments came as international coverage focused on widening unrest and rising casualties, and followed Trump’s own warning of possible U.S. intervention if protesters are violently killed.
2026/01/02Prince Reza Pahlavi Thanks Trump, Says Warning Boosts Protesters’ “Hope and Resolve”
Prince Reza Pahlavi said President Donald Trump’s warning to the Islamic Republic has given Iranians “more strength and hope,” arguing it signals a U.S. president is now standing firmly with the Iranian people. In a direct message to Trump, he said Iranians are risking their lives to end 46 years of rule by the current system, and that they have entrusted him with a broader responsibility: pursuing the restoration of Iran’s relationship with the United States and advancing what he described as a clear plan for a stable political transition—one he says has public backing—framing it as a path toward lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
2026/01/02Tehran Bazaar Strikes Spread to Major Cities as Online Shops Suspend Sales, Reports Say
In recent days, widespread closures among merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and major commercial hubs in cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, and Mashhad have added a new layer to Iran’s cost-of-living protests. What began as shop shutdowns has continued with street-level participation by merchants and residents and, in some locations, has been accompanied by political slogans targeting the broader power structure. The movement is also reported to be expanding beyond physical marketplaces: over the past 72 hours , **hundreds of online stores—especially Instagram-based sellers—**have reportedly suspended sales to signal solidarity with bazaar protests, indicating growing participation from parts of Iran’s digital economy.
2026/01/02Ilam and Kermanshah See Fresh Arrests and Injuries as Iran Protests Enter Day Six
IranWire, citing Kurdpa, reported that by 11 Dey 1404 (January 1, 2026) at least 16 people had been detained across locations in Ilam and Kermanshah provinces, with 30+ injured from reported pellet-gun fire, tear gas, and security raids. The report also said dozens were wounded in cities including Dehloran, Abdanan, Dareh Shahr, Harsin, and Eslamabad-e Gharb, and that some injured people avoided medical centers due to fear of arrest.
2026/01/02Reports of Internet Disruptions Emerge in Iranian Cities Amid Ongoing Protests
Unverified reports circulating from Iran suggest disruptions to internet access in several cities, particularly in areas where demonstrators have been active in the streets. Social media users have specifically reported connectivity problems in Marvdasht (Fars province) , as authorities face rising pressure to contain information flows alongside the widening unrest.
2026/01/02Zahedan Security Tightens as Reports Say Five Baluch Citizens Detained After Friday Prayers
As nationwide protests continued on Friday, January 2, 2026 (12 Dey 1404) , Baluch rights networks reported a sharper security posture in Zahedan , including the detention of at least five Baluch citizens by plainclothes forces after Friday prayers. The Baluch Activists Campaign said anti-riot units and security forces increased patrols and deployments across key streets (including University St. and خیابان خیام), while Haalvsh reported post-prayer marches and anti-government chants in solidarity with protests elsewhere. The reports also recalled the 2022 “Bloody Friday of Zahedan” crackdown as a key reference point for current fears of escalation; details remain difficult to independently verify in real time.
2026/01/02Tension Reported in East Tehran and Qom as Protests Continue Into Sixth Night
Social-media reports said unrest remained elevated late Friday in Tehranpars (east Tehran) and Qom , with accounts of clashes between protesters and security forces and tear gas fired in Qom . Independent verification of these claims is limited in real time, but Iran-focused coverage has also reported tear gas being used to disperse crowds in parts of Tehran and nearby areas , underscoring the broader hardening of crowd-control tactics as protests persist.
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