The nationwide uprising against the religious dictatorship in Iran has reached its twenty-fifth day on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. On Day 25, the regime’s Judiciary Chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, openly called for swift and harsh sentences against protesters, signaling a new wave of potential executions. Meanwhile, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) has released the names of 103 additional martyrs. Despite a suffocating internet blackout now exceeding 300 hours, reports from Tehran, Isfahan, and Kermanshah confirm that the youth are holding their ground, with women playing a leading role in the street battles.
Day 25 Roundup: 321 martyrs identified, Eje’i demands harsh sentences, and “war zones” in Tehran and Isfahan
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the twenty-fifth day of the uprising, the regime’s attempt to silence the nation through a digital blockade and lethal force has failed to quell the unrest.
Key highlights from today include:
- New Martyrs Identified: The PMOI released the names of 103 more martyrs, including 12 women, bringing the total number of verified identities to 321.
- Threats of Execution: Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i visited Bushehr and demanded “swift and decisive” rulings without leniency for detained protesters, labeling their actions as “war against the security of the country.”
- Tehran Frontlines: Intense resistance is reported in District 5 (Poonak and Ashrafi Esfahani), where women are reportedly leading the charge against security forces.
- Isfahan on Fire: Reports from Mobarakeh confirm the burning of government centers, including the City Council, Municipality, and Basij stores, by rebellious youth.
- Internet Blackout: NetBlocks confirmed the national internet blackout has surpassed 300 hours, while regime insider warnings grow about the security risks of prolonged disconnection.
- International Condemnation: The US State Department and EU officials have condemned the regime’s “war” against its own people.
PMOI releases names of 103 more martyrs; Total reaches 321
On Day 25 of the uprising, the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) released a new list of martyrs. The PMOI announced the names of 103 additional individuals who sacrificed their lives for freedom, following the verification of their identities. This update brings the total number of published names to 321.
Among the newly identified martyrs are 12 women. The list includes courageous youth from across the country, such as 16-year-old Mohammadreza Abdolrahmanzadeh from Tehran and 15-year-old Amirmohammad Arbab Pouri from Kermanshah. The geographic spread of the martyrs—spanning Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj, Rasht, and beyond—highlights the nationwide scope of the crackdown and the resistance.
Field Reports: Tehran’s District 5 defies suppression; Government buildings burn in Isfahan
Despite the blackout, reports from the PMOI network describe a volatile situation across the country.
January 8—Isfahan, central Iran
Newly obtained videos from mass protests on January 8. The people showed immense courage, fighting back against the regime's repressive forces while chanting slogans such as "Down with the dictator" and "Khamenei will be overthrown"#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/b8grGEUkhB— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 21, 2026
- Tehran (District 5 – Poonak/Ashrafi): Intense clashes are reported in the Poonak and Ashrafi Esfahani areas. Reports indicate that women are at the forefront of the resistance, courageously running toward gunfire. Protesters are using “scatter tactics” to exhaust security forces.
- Isfahan (Mobarakeh): Details have emerged regarding heavy damage to regime infrastructure. Images confirm that the regime buildings such as City Council, Municipality, Finance Department, and Basij-affiliated stores were set on fire on January 8 and 9. Reports state that despite the killing of 5 protesters on January 8 and 28 on January 9, the people remain defiant, and strikes continue.
- Shahin Shahr: Shocking statistics from this city indicate a massacre, with reports citing 186 killed and 400 wounded during the days of the uprising.
- Kermanshah: The city is under a heavy security siege with strict night traffic restrictions. Reports confirm the martyrdom of a protester named Mohammad on Thursday night by direct fire, as well as the killing of a young girl and a 40-year-old man.
- Bandar Abbas: The bazaar is on strike. The regime has blocked roads leading to the governor’s office with heavy concrete barriers, fearing the crowds.
January 8—Karaj, northern Iran
Newly obtained videos show protesters resisting against the regime's repressive forces during the intense protests of January 8.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/hEJJ0kPOEP— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 21, 2026
Judiciary Chief Eje’i demands “swift and decisive” sentences; Regime fears “security crisis”
Faced with an unstoppable movement, the regime is doubling down on intimidation. Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, the judiciary chief, traveled to Bushehr today and issued distinct threats against detained protesters. He emphasized that sentences must be “swift and decisive,” warning judges against any “leniency, negligence, or delay.” He characterized the protests not as public disorder but as actions against national security, demanding the harshest legal retribution.
However, fissures within the regime are widening. The state-run newspaper Ettela’at expressed panic, warning officials that labeling starving people as “rioters” is dangerous. “You cannot label every protester an enemy,” the paper wrote, asking security officials, “Where were you when armed enemies were equipping themselves inside the country?”
Additionally, regime cleric Mohammad-Ali Abtahi warned that the continued internet blackout is creating a “new security crisis” and devastating the economy, highlighting the internal fear that the suppression tactics are backfiring.
International Reaction: “The world is watching”
As the regime tries to hide its atrocities behind a digital curtain, the international community is responding.
⏱️ Over 300 hours have passed since #Iran imposed a national internet blackout to hide atrocities. Meanwhile, the regime uses whitelisted networks and places op-eds to shape opinion abroad.
Attempts to obscure the truth will be documented in real time: The world is watching. pic.twitter.com/UdesRCOyUg
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 21, 2026
- NetBlocks reported that the internet blackout has passed 300 hours, noting the regime’s attempt to use “whitelisted networks” to shape opinion while hiding the truth.
- The US State Department (Persian account) condemned the violence, stating, “When convoys of military trucks and machine guns line up in the streets… it is clear the regime is waging war against them.” They added that the regime’s attempt to blame foreign powers is a “ridiculous attempt to rewrite reality.”
وقتی کاروانهای کامیونهای نظامی سبز و مسلسلها در خیابانهای لرستان و دیگر مناطق ایران صف میکشند، یک چیز روشن است: رژیم جمهوری اسلامی از مردم ایران محافظت نمیکند، بلکه علیه آنها جنگ به پا کرده است. این امنیت نیست؛ این تهدید آشکار است.. اما همانطور که تاریخ بارها نشان داده… pic.twitter.com/dwuetpLynv
— USAbehFarsi (@USABehFarsi) January 21, 2026
- Kaja Kallas (Vice-President of the European Commission) emphasized that Iranian men and women are fighting for a future of their own choosing and that the EU is working on new sanctions.
Iranian women and men are fighting for a future of their own choosing.
For freedom, dignity, and a better life.The Iranian authorities’ brutal repression is unacceptable.
The EU already has sweeping sanctions on Iran in place.
We are working on new sanctions in response.My… pic.twitter.com/m2ZmDZLF3U
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 20, 2026