On the ninth day of nationwide protests in Iran, protest gatherings and strikes by bazaar merchants continued, and the Iranian regime once again tried to suppress the protests through violence. More public figures, organizations, and athletes inside and outside Iran voiced support for the protests.
According to reports published on social media, shops in several Iranian cities, including parts of Tehran (the capital), parts of Karaj (near Tehran), Marvdasht, Kazerun, and the port city of Bandar Ganaveh, were closed on Monday, January 5, as shop owners went on strike.
On January 5, Families of arrested protesters gathered in front of Yasuj Governorate office with slogans of "Freedom, freedom, freedom"#IranProtests #FreeIran #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/28JITaUlF6
— Iran Focus (@Iran_Focus) January 5, 2026
In Iran’s capital, repressive forces and the Iranian regime’s special units were on alert in several areas, including in front of Tehran University, one of the country’s main public universities.
At the same time, merchants in the “Cheragh Bargh” section of the Tehran Bazaar and traders in Tehran’s iron market joined the nationwide strike by closing their shops. Subsequently, bazaar merchants confronted the Iranian regime’s security forces.
Protest gathering in Yasuj
Protesters in Yasuj, the capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, held a street protest. Published videos showed repressive agents attacking the families of detainees from Yasuj in front of the city’s governorate building.
Arrest of hundreds of teenagers, threats by the judiciary, and internet shutdowns
On January 4, Iranian security forces fired tear gas into Ilam hospital#IranProtests #FreeIran #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/KoQ8BOL48D
— Iran Focus (@Iran_Focus) January 4, 2026
As the protests continued across different parts of the country, dozens of citizens ranging from teenagers to adults were arrested in various cities. These arrests mainly took place during street protests and public gatherings and, in many cases, were accompanied by violence. Security forces carried out widespread arrests through nighttime raids, beating protesters, entering private homes, and confiscating personal belongings.
Many of those detained, including school students, university students, teachers, women, and ordinary citizens, have been transferred to unknown locations without the presentation of a clear judicial warrant or any official notification. Field reports indicate that most families remain unaware of the condition of their detained children and relatives, and no possibility of contact or visitation has been provided. Security institutions have so far released no official information regarding the charges against detainees, and the lack of information about their physical condition, place of detention, and access to legal counsel has intensified concerns. These circumstances have prompted human rights organizations to warn about the expansion of systematic violations of citizens’ basic rights.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the Iranian regime’s judiciary, said on Monday: “There can be no leniency toward rioters. If there were concessions in the past, this time we will make no concessions, because the Israeli regime and the foolish and irrational president of America have officially supported the riots.”
Sattar Hashemi, the Iranian regime’s minister of communications and information technology, said regarding internet restrictions and shutdowns that this policy is not “absolute and permanent” and depends on specific conditions and decisions made with security, livelihood considerations, and the “protection of citizens’ lives” in mind.
In recent days, alongside the spread of nationwide protests, internet access has been restricted or cut in some parts of Iran.
According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), so far 18 citizens have been killed by the Iranian regime’s security forces.
Based on videos and field reports, the county of Sonqor and Kolyai in Kermanshah province was among the first areas to witness a large presence of protesters. On Sonqor’s main street and in Moallem Square, large crowds gathered chanting “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran” and “Death to the dictator.”
In Yasuj, families of those detained in the nationwide uprising held a protest gathering demanding the immediate release of their loved ones. The rally was held with chants of “Freedom, freedom, freedom” and reflected widespread anger over mass arrests and the brutal repression by the clerical regime.
