Live report | Monday, January 12, 2026
The nationwide uprising against the religious dictatorship in Iran has reached its sixteenth day on Monday, January 12, 2026. Following a fifteenth day marked by strikes and protests in different cities, the situation has escalated significantly.
On Monday, the true scale of the regime’s brutality came to light with new casualty figures released by the Iranian opposition, while regime officials, sensing the threat to their existence, resorted to open threats of execution and harsh crackdowns. Simultaneously, the regime faces unprecedented diplomatic isolation as the European Parliament closes its doors to the mullahs’ representatives.
Day 16 Roundup: 3,000 Martyrs, European Parliament bans regime diplomats, and Internet blackout hits 96 hours
On Monday, January 12, 2026, the sixteenth day of the uprising, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced a shocking update on the number of lives lost to the regime’s suppression. meanwhile, the regime’s judiciary and legislative heads vowed “no leniency” for protesters.
Key highlights from today include:
- Death Toll Surpasses 3,000: The PMOI/MEK announced that more than 3,000 protesters have been killed across 195 cities since the uprising began on December 28.
- Regime Panic and Threats: Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, the regime’s Judiciary Chief, and Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament, both issued threats of severe punishment, speedy trials, and “no mercy” for protesters.
- EU Parliament Bans Regime: Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, announced a ban on all diplomatic staff of the Iranian regime from entering EP premises, stating “it cannot be business as usual.”
- “Year of Blood” in Tehran: At Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran, mourners turned a funeral into a protest, chanting, “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!” At the same time, videos from Tehran, Isfahan, and Fars province show people defying the regime’s repressive apparatus and holding large protest rallies.
- 96-Hour Blackout: NetBlocks confirmed that Iran has been offline for 96 hours, with fixed-line and mobile data disabled to hide the regime’s crimes.
PMOI: Death toll surpasses 3,000; Maryam Rajavi calls for justice
On the sixteenth day of the uprising, the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) issued a harrowing report regarding the human cost of freedom in Iran. The PMOI announced that as of January 11, the number of martyrs has surpassed 3,000. These figures were compiled through the PMOI’s network inside Iran, including local sources, hospitals, and forensic medicine centers across 195 cities.
Message on the 16th day of the Iranian people’s uprising for freedom
The bodies of Iran’s freedom fighters have filled hospitals and morgues#IranRevolutionhttps://t.co/wySXvLG27L pic.twitter.com/48DcaGGkIH— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 12, 2026
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, described this massacre as a “major crime against humanity.” She noted that the regime has been forced to display bodies on state television in a desperate attempt to blame the violence on opponents.
“The bodies of Iran’s freedom fighters have filled hospitals and morgues,” Mrs. Rajavi stated. She emphasized that the high casualty count is not a sign of the regime’s strength, but of Khamenei’s weakness and desperation. “This time, Khamenei and the violent forces defending him will be drowned in the sea of blood they have spilled from the people of Iran.”
Regime chiefs in panic: Eje’i and Ghalibaf threaten “No Mercy”
As the uprising persists despite the massacre, the heads of the regime’s branches are displaying visible panic and resorting to threats of extreme violence.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, the judiciary chief of the executioners, explicitly stated today that there will be “no leniency” for detainees. In a rant that betrayed the regime’s fear of the organized nature of the protests, he claimed, “The enemy came to the field openly.” He ordered prosecutors to identify the “main elements” and process their cases with urgency, signaling imminent sham trials and executions. He specifically urged the use of the regime’s own lawyers to prosecute protesters both domestically and internationally.
Simultaneously, in the regime’s parliament, Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf threatened the people, stating, “We will deal with those who have started a terrorist war in the harshest form.” He vowed that the regime’s repressive forces, including the police and IRGC, would stand firm and “will not retreat an iota.”
Behesht-e Zahra: “Seyyed Ali will be overthrown!”
January 12—Behesht-e Zahra cemetery (Tehran), Iran
During mourning ceremonies for protesters killed by the regime's criminal forces, mourners chanted, "This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!"
Note: There are many more events happening in Iran. Iran… pic.twitter.com/gfuk3JnqeI— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 12, 2026
Despite these threats, the spirit of resistance remains unbroken. In Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, a mourning ceremony for protesters killed by the regime transformed into a political rally. Mourners, undeterred by the presence of security forces, chanted one of the defining slogans of this uprising: “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!”
In Tehran, a large crowd rallied despite the regime’s extensive measures, chanting, “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!” It is worth noting that earlier in the day, the regime had held a large rally to create the impression that it had suppressed the uprising.
January 12—Tehran, Iran
Large crowd returned to streets for another night of anti-regime protests, chanting "Disgrace!" to the regime's repressive security forces.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/UGxWmywLPU— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 12, 2026
At the same time, videos from Isfahan and Meshkah, Fars province, shows protesters defying the regime’s security forces and calling for regime change.
Diplomatic Isolation: EU Parliament bans regime diplomats
On the international front, the regime is facing growing isolation. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, announced a decisive measure today. “It cannot be business as usual,” Metsola declared, banning all diplomatic staff and representatives of the Islamic Republic from European Parliament premises. She stated that the House “will not aid in legitimising this regime that has sustained itself through torture, repression and murder.”
It cannot be business as usual.
As the brave people of Iran continue to stand up for their rights and their liberty, today I have taken the decision to ban all diplomatic staff and any other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran from all European Parliament premises.…
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) January 12, 2026
Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a former EP Vice-President, welcomed the decision but urged the EU to go further. “It is a good decision, but it hardly tickles the thick skin of the mullahs,” he said, calling for the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization and the cancellation of all diplomatic relations.
Shocked by reports of violence & excessive use of force by the Iranian authorities against protesters resulting in deaths & injuries in recent days.
The rights to freedom of expression, association & peaceful assembly must be fully respected & protected.
I urge the Iranian…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 11, 2026
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed shock at the “violence and excessive use of force” resulting in deaths and urged the regime to restore communications.
Digital Blackout: 96 hours of darkness
The regime continues its attempt to hide these atrocities behind a digital iron curtain. NetBlocks reported today that Iran has been offline for 96 hours. The blackout includes fixed-line internet, mobile data, and calls, severely limiting the ability of the Iranian people to communicate with the outside world and hold the regime accountable for civilian deaths.
⚠️ Update: #Iran has now been offline for 96 hours, limiting reporting and accountability over civilian deaths as Iranians protest and demand change; fixed-line internet, mobile data and calls are disabled, while other communication means are also increasingly being targeted ⌛️ pic.twitter.com/Dxe5OlUWqN
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 12, 2026