Day 21 of Iran Protests Live Report: Fierce clashes in multiple cities, regime mobilizes 52,000 forces in Tehran, Defiant Youth carry out 60 operations, and 32 more martyrs confirmed
Key Highlights from Today’s Iran Protests
- Nationwide Street Battles: Clashes reported in Tehran, Kermanshah, Ilam, Mashhad, and Saveh, with confrontations continuing into the night.
- Kermanshah Flashpoint: Basij member Morteza Hashmati was killed during armed clashes and reciprocal gunfire.
- Tehran on Lockdown: Regime placed the capital on 100% high alert, deploying 52,000 suppression forces, including IRGC, Basij, police, army, and foreign proxies.
- Defiant Youth Operations: Despite killings and internet blackout, 60 anti-repression operations targeted regime symbols and repression centers nationwide.
- Martyrs Identified: The PMOI/MEK announced 32 additional martyrs, including 6 women, bringing published names to 162.
Live Developments – Day 21
🔴 Update – 7:30 PM CET (Friday, January 16, 2026)
Kermanshah – Thursday night (25 Dey): Rebellious youth fought bold street battles with armed special units and IRGC forces in the Anahita neighborhood.1
Tehran – Friday night (26 Dey): Rebellious youth engaged in street battles with special-unit forces along Soltani Street, confronting advancing security units.
Qom – Friday night (26 Dey): Protesters blocked enemy access routes with fire and clashed with special-unit forces during nighttime confrontations.
In Kermanshah, on Thursday night (25 Dey), rebellious youth continued intense street battles with special-unit forces. During armed clashes and reciprocal gunfire, Basij member Morteza Hashmati was killed.
Update – 8:30 AM CET (Friday, January 16, 2026)
In Tehran, clashes spread across the city. On Thursday night, protesters engaged in bold confrontations with special units in Imam Hossein Square. On Friday night (26 Dey), further street battles were reported in Tehranpars, with protesters confronting special units and regime forces in direct engagements.
In Ilam, on Thursday night, protesters sustained running street battles with armed special units and IRGC forces, confronting security advances amid heavy repression.
In Mashhad, on Thursday night, protesters engaged in fierce street battles with special units and IRGC forces across multiple streets.
In Saveh, on Thursday night, rebellious youth clashed with armed special units on Motahari Street, as unrest expanded to additional provincial cities.
Regime Forces on 100% High Alert in Tehran
The Iranian Resistance urged vigilance among compatriots, especially rebellious youth in Tehran, as regime forces remain on full alert.
52,000 suppression forces deployed in Tehran, including:
- 24,000 IRGC and Basij members
- 21,000 police forces
- 2,000 army personnel
- 5,000 foreign proxies, including Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)
Key security measures reported:
- 24/7 armed patrols by police, IRGC, and Basij across streets, main roads, side streets, and residential alleys.
- Motorcycle units carrying Kalashnikovs, shotguns, handheld tear gas/pepper spray launchers, and paintball guns used to mark individuals, homes, and shops.
- Squads stationed in minibuses and buses in formations of 15, 25, and 50 across the city.
- Checkpoints conducting random vehicle trunk inspections in Tehran and major cities.
- Heavy weapons, including machine guns and in some cases DShK heavy machine guns, deployed at major squares and chokepoints.
- Snipers positioned on rooftops overlooking sensitive points, government centers, residential areas, and alleyways.
- The army tasked with guarding power plants, critical infrastructure, and reinforcing security for IRIB facilities.
Defiant Youth Operations
Despite the regime’s killing spree and internet blackout, Defiant Youth carried out 60 anti-oppression operations across Iran, targeting centers of repression and setting fire to regime symbols and banners, aimed at spreading resistance and morale nationwide.
Martyrs of the Nationwide Uprising – New Names Released
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced on Friday, January 16 (26 Dey 1404) that it has released the names of 32 additional martyrs of the nationwide uprising after verification. Six of the martyrs are women.
With this update, the total number of identified martyrs whose names have been published has reached 162.
What Happened
The Iran Protests are the continuation of a nationwide uprising rooted in decades of repression, economic hardship, and state violence. As the regime escalates militarization—especially in Tehran—protesters and organized resistance networks continue to confront armed forces, while verified reports of martyrs and mass repression underline the human cost of the uprising.