2026/01/28IRGC Deputy: Iran’s Defense Has Grown, Any Attack Now “Riskier”
Ahmad Vahidi, deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the Islamic Republic’s defensive capabilities have strengthened in recent years, making any military action against Iran “riskier” for adversaries. Using a deterrent tone, he added that the “enemy” does not understand it would be fighting something it “cannot overcome,” and said statements by U.S. officials “do not frighten” Iran—signaling Tehran’s effort to project readiness and raise the perceived cost of escalation.
2026/01/28Araqchi: “No Recent Contact” With Witkoff, No Request for Talks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday there has been no contact in recent days between Tehran and Steve Witkoff , the U.S. special envoy, and that Iran has not requested negotiations . He added that several countries are acting as intermediaries and consultations with them continue, while stressing that talks “don’t go along with threats” and can only proceed once coercive pressure and excessive demands are set aside.
2026/01/28Guardian Probe Flags Possible Mass Burials to Conceal Iran Protest Death Toll
A Guardian investigation published on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 (7 Bahman 1404) says testimonies and evidence gathered from doctors, forensic-medicine staff, and eyewitnesses in Iran suggest authorities may have carried out mass burials and removed bodies from official channels to mask the true scale of deaths during the protests crackdown. The report describes claims of disappeared bodies , pressure on morgue/graveyard staff, and alleged manipulation of records—while noting verification remains difficult under severe restrictions and fear of reprisals.
2026/01/28Mourners Disrupt Official Speech at Tehran Medical University Gathering
Students mourning Aida Heydari reportedly left the venue after the deputy for student affairs at Tehran University of Medical Sciences arrived, preventing him from delivering a speech. Heydari, a University of Tehran student, was killed in Tehran on 18 Dey 1404 after being shot by Islamic Republic forces, according to the report—an incident that has become a focal point for campus anger and grief.
2026/01/28Evin Letter: “Not Just Repression—A Scorched-Earth Message”
Reza Khandan, civil activist and the husband of human-rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, wrote in a letter from Tehran’s Evin Prison that the recent mass killing of protesters was not merely a crackdown. He described it as an attempt to “break the nation’s back” and leave a “scorched earth,” framing the violence as a deliberate strategy to intimidate society and deter further resistance.
2026/01/28Tehran Disappearance Reported After Dey Crackdown Arrest Wave
Following the heavy crackdown on the nights of 18–19 Dey 1404 , reports say a new wave of extrajudicial detentions has spread across multiple Iranian cities. One informed source now says a 30-year-old accountant, Mahya Goleh-Dari , has disappeared since 25 Dey 1404 after going missing in Tehran’s Piroozi neighborhood, where she lives. The report raises renewed concern over “enforced disappearance” risks in the post-crackdown period, as families and activists warn that the lack of official information can obscure custody status and legal access.
2026/01/28IranWire: Ilam Student Reportedly Detained by IRGC Intelligence
IranWire reports that an Islamic Azad University student in Ilam, Mohammadmehdi Makan Nemati (English Literature), has been detained since 18 Dey 1404 and transferred to an undisclosed location . Informed sources cited by IranWire say the detaining authority is the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Ilam, raising renewed concern over student arrests and lack of transparency around detention locations and legal access.
2026/01/27Copenhagen Protest Presses France on IRGC Terror Listing
A group of Iranians rallied outside the French Embassy in Copenhagen on 7 Bahman 1404 (Jan. 27, 2026) , urging France’s foreign minister to support adding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. The demonstration comes a day after Italy’s foreign minister said Rome will push EU partners in Brussels to back an IRGC listing ahead of the bloc’s next foreign ministers’ meeting on 9 Bahman (Jan. 29) . Any designation would require unanimous approval from all EU member states, and France and Spain have been cited among countries that have so far resisted or opposed such a move.
2026/01/27Iran Judiciary Publishes First Dey-Protests Trial Images, Fair-Trial Concerns Resurface
Iran’s judiciary released images from what it described as the first court hearing of a defendant linked to the Dey 1404 protests , with the state-affiliated Mizan agency framing the case as part of the trial of suspects in the killing of Shahin Dehghani , a police officer in Malard . Media reports say the first defendant, Mohammad Abbasi , was tried in an “open” session where the court displayed images of Dehghani’s bloodied body on a screen, while prosecutors accused Abbasi of killing him with knife strikes . Reformist daily Etemaad reported that Abbasi’s lawyer argued the victim sustained multiple blows and that not all of them could have been inflicted with the defendant’s weapon. Human-rights groups continue to criticize Iran’s judicial process, saying such proceedings fall short of fair-trial standards, as security forces reportedly arrested hundreds during and after the protests on allegations including killings and property damage, with some detainees later shown making televised “confessions” under pressure.
2026/01/27Radio Farda: Emergency Doctor Detained in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison
Radio Farda, citing an informed source, reported the arrest of Dr. Babak Pouramin , an emergency medicine specialist in Neyshabur who reportedly lives in Mashhad. The source said he was detained at his home on 29 Dey 1404 (Jan. 19, 2026) —around ten days after the 18–19 Dey protests—and is being held in Vakilabad Prison . Since his arrest, he has reportedly made one phone call to his family on 7 Bahman 1404 (Jan. 27, 2026) , still has no access to a lawyer , and the formal charges remain unclear . The report notes that one allegation raised in other doctors’ cases has been helping injured protesters leave hospitals before security forces arrive , amid broader claims of escalating pressure on medical staff.
2026/01/27Death-Penalty Risk for 26-Year-Old Footballer in Mashhad
Mohammad-Hossein Hosseini, a 26-year-old footballer from Mashhad and a former political prisoner, is facing charges that could lead to a death sentence, according to information relayed from Vakilabad Prison. He says he was arrested at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, 23 Dey 1404 (January 13, 2026) after security forces raided his home in Mashhad. In a phone call from prison, Hosseini said he was told today that a court hearing will be scheduled soon, but that he has not been allowed legal counsel. He said he was shown a charge sheet listing moharebeh , assembly and collusion , cultural propaganda against the system , damage to public property , and leading riots —raising concerns about a heavy sentence, including execution. Hosseini, who played in the youth ranks of Persepolis and Sepahan, has reportedly been arrested six times since 2021; his last prior detention was linked to the seventh memorial for human-rights lawyer Khosro Ali-Kordi.
2026/01/27Esteghlal Locker-Room Clash: Players Reportedly Refused to Return After Threats
Information cited by Iran International says Esteghlal’s acting CEO Ali Tajernia entered the team’s dressing room at halftime of the match against Esteghlal Khuzestan and threatened players , after which some players reportedly did not want to go back on the pitch for the second half. The report claims Tajernia told them the Islamic Republic “will remain” and that there will be “no overthrow.” On the field, defender Saman Fallah scored in the 55th minute but did not celebrate , fueling speculation about internal tensions. After the match, Iranian media reported head coach Ricardo Sá Pinto was angry about Tajernia’s sudden presence; Sá Pinto later said it was unusual because such visits typically require his permission, and that while he allowed Tajernia to speak, it hurt the team —players became nervous, disagreed with parts of the message, and the atmosphere turned unpleasant, leaving him little time to calm the squad.
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