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Live report: Day 11 of Iran Uprising; Strikes paralyze Shiraz, Tehran, and Kermanshah markets

By Mahmoud Hakamian
Protests and strikes in Shiraz
Protests and strikes in Shiraz (January 7, 2026)

Live report | Wednesday, January 7, 2026

The nationwide uprising against the religious dictatorship in Iran has entered its eleventh day on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. What began on December 28, 2025, as a protest against economic collapse has firmly transformed into a political revolution.

Following a historic tenth day, which saw the people of Abdanan (Ilam Province) temporarily liberate their city and occupy a police station while Tehran’s Grand Bazaar resembled a “war zone,” the momentum has only accelerated. On Wednesday, reports indicate that the spirit of resistance has spread further, with students, market merchants, and even political prisoners uniting in their call for the downfall of the regime.

Day 11 Roundup: Protests in dozens of cities; regime forces flee from demonstrators; South Pars workers strike

On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the nationwide uprising against the religious dictatorship took a decisive turn. What began as market strikes in the morning evolved into fierce street confrontations by nightfall. The regime’s authority is visibly crumbling in several cities where security forces, despite using live ammunition, were forced to retreat by determined crowds.

Key highlights:

  • Strategic Strikes: Workers at the South Pars refineries joined the nationwide strike, striking a blow to the regime’s energy sector. simultaneously, major bazaars in Tehran, Tabriz, Rasht, Shiraz, and Qazvin remained shuttered.
  • Forces Retreat: In Abadan, Borujerd, Bojnurd, and Qazvin, security forces were forced to flee or retreat to their bases in the face of massive, fearless crowds.
  • Lethal Violence: The regime used live ammunition in Lordegan and Kermanshah. In Lordegan, several protesters were critically wounded but the people stood their ground.
  • March on Governorate: In Gilan-e Gharb, a massive crowd marched toward the governorate building, chanting slogans in solidarity with the martyrs of Ilam.
  • University Uprising: From Tehran’s Soore University to Zahedan and Urmia, students held night rallies with the slogan: “Evin has become a university, Tehran has become a prison.”
  • Public Intervention: In Kerman and Kermanshah, citizens physically intervened to prevent the arrest of protesters, signaling the collapse of the “wall of fear.”

Update—22:00 CET

Nightly protests ignite nationwide; Forces flee in Abadan and Borujerd

As night fell on the eleventh day of the uprising, the protests intensified into direct confrontations across Iran. From the north to the southeast, the Iranian people have taken control of the streets, often forcing the regime’s heavily armed agents to flee.

In Abadan (southwest Iran), a pivotal scene unfolded where security forces, unable to quell the anger of the people, abandoned their positions and fled. Despite being empty-handed, the determination of the protesters overcame the regime’s tear gas and suppression apparatus. Similarly, in Borujerd (western Iran), brave youths clashed with armed IRGC forces using only stones, forcing the agents to retreat into their base.

Lordegan and Qazvin: Resistance against live fire

The regime’s brutality peaked in Lordegan (western Iran), where security forces opened fire with live ammunition. Reports confirm that several protesters have been critically wounded. However, the people did not disperse; instead, they fiercely resisted and forced the suppressive forces to back off.

In Qazvin, nightly demonstrations turned into street battles. While security forces utilized firearms and tear gas, the youth stood their ground, maintaining control of the streets and chanting anti-regime slogans.

Gilan-e Gharb marches on Governorate; Solidarity with Ilam

In Gilan-e Gharb (Kermanshah province), the protests have taken an organized and aggressive turn. A massive crowd gathered for a nightly rally and began marching toward the governorate building. The demonstrators chanted slogans in support of the people of Malekshahi, Ilam, who recently suffered a massacre by the regime, chanting, “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!”

In Mehran (Ilam province), the regime dispatched a large anti-riot contingent to intimidate the public, but the demonstrators tightened their ranks and continued their rally.

Universities: “Evin has become a university”

Despite the late hour, university students remained active. At Soore University in Tehran, students defied security pressure to chant a poignant new slogan: “Evin [Prison] has become a university, Tehran has become a prison,” condemning the mass arrests of students.

In Zahedan, students at the University of Sistan & Baluchestan, and in Urmia, university students held rallies chanting, “Students will die but won’t accept humiliation.”

The Wall of Fear Crumbles: People intervene in arrests

A defining feature of Day 11 is the increasing boldness of the public. In Kerman, citizens physically intervened to prevent security forces from arresting protesters. Reports indicate that the regime’s forces are becoming visibly hesitant as the wall of fear collapses. A similar incident occurred in Kermanshah, where protesters rushed to the aid of a woman injured by security forces, braving tear gas to save her.

Strikes and Rallies continue from Rasht to Zahedan

The geographic spread of tonight’s protests is vast:

  • Gonabad: Large crowds gathered in front of the state-run seminary.
  • Rasht & Tabriz: The Gold Market in Rasht and the Bazaar in Tabriz remained on strike, with nightly protests following in Rasht.
  • Karaj (Hesarak): Protesters chanted, “This is the year of blood.”
  • Sarjangal (Zahedan): Youths set up roadblocks to hamper regime movement.
  • Neyshabur, Chenaran, Sabzevar, Mashhad, Astara, Aligudarz, & Malekshahr: All witnessed large nightly rallies calling for the fall of the dictator.

Update—16:30 CET

Regime opens fire in Lordegan and Karaj; South Pars workers join the strike

As the sun sets on the eleventh day of the uprising, the situation has escalated into violent confrontations in several cities. The regime, unable to contain the spreading unrest, has resorted to lethal force.

In Lordegan (western Iran), video footage confirms that security forces fired live ammunition into the crowd, leaving at least one protester critically wounded. Tensions also exploded in Karaj (near Tehran), where the sound of gunfire echoed through the packed Hesarak Bazaar.

Despite this brutality, the strike movement achieved a significant victory today. Workers at the South Pars refineries, a critical component of the regime’s energy infrastructure, have joined the nationwide strikes. This move signals a dangerous escalation for the ruling dictatorship, which relies heavily on energy revenues.

Massive crowds in Bojnurd and Qazvin force agents to retreat

In a display of overwhelming people power, the residents of Bojnurd staged one of the largest demonstrations of the uprising so far. The Bazaar joined the strike, and the crowds were so massive that security forces, fearing for their safety, retreated to the rooftops.

Similarly, in Qazvin, where the main bazaar and Khayyam Street are completely shut down, protesters pushed back against security forces, forcing them to retreat. The chants of “Death to the dictator” rang out across the city.

Shiraz: Barricades vs. Water Cannons

The city of Shiraz has turned into a scene of urban resistance. The regime deployed plainclothes agents across the city and used water cannons in an attempt to disperse demonstrators in the Sadra district and other areas.

In response, the youth have escalated their defensive tactics. Footage from the city shows a truck dumping a load of stones onto the street to help protesters construct barricades against the suppressive forces. In the Qashqai areas and on Amir Kabir Boulevard, the people are chanting, “This is the year of blood, Khamenei will be overthrown.”

Tehran and major cities: Strikes paralyze the economy

The capital remains in a state of unrest. Strikes have spread beyond the Grand Bazaar to industrial and commercial districts. Merchants in the Chahardangeh Industrial District, Salehabad Bazaar, Yaftabad Furniture Bazaar, and the Hammam Chal fabric market have all ceased operations. In Shemiran Now and Al Ghadir Square, crowds gathered to chant against the Supreme Leader.

The strike wave has also engulfed Tabriz, Rasht, Ahvaz, Kerman, and Bandar Abbas, where brave crowds have taken to the streets. In Abadan, southwest Iran, protesters mocked the regime’s military posturing, chanting, “Cannons, tanks, firecrackers, mullahs must get lost!”

Students in Qom and Zanjan: “Khamenei will fall”

The student movement continues to radicalize. Female students at Qom Islamic Azad University marched with the slogan, “Students may die, but they will never live in humiliation.” In Zanjan, university students echoed the nationwide sentiment, chanting, “This year is the year of blood — Khamenei will fall.”

Maryam Rajavi: “Every bullet fired ignites the flames of revolt”

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), hailed the protesters in cities across Iran, including Kermanshah, Ahvaz, and Ilam. Addressing the violence, she stated:

“Live fire by Khamenei’s IRGC forces and repressive agents against demonstrators, including in Dizelabad, Kermanshah, cannot stop the Iranian people’s uprising. Khamenei should know that every bullet fired by his mercenaries only further ignites the flames of revolt.”

Update—11:00 CET

Shiraz: Bazaars shut down as protesters clash with security forces

On the eleventh day of the uprising, the city of Shiraz in southern Iran has become a focal point of resistance. Reports confirm that shopkeepers in the Vakil Bazaar and the Mesgarabad district have closed their businesses, joining the nationwide strike.

Video footage from the city shows a tense atmosphere where strikes have evolved into street protests. In the areas of Yaghtin Street, stretching from Rahmat to Amirkabir, citizens have clashed with security forces. Despite the heavy presence of suppressive units firing tear gas, the brave youth of Shiraz are holding their ground.

Demonstrators were heard chanting, “Proud bazaaris, support, support!” urging more unity against the regime, while other crowds chanted directly against the supreme leader with slogans of “Down with the dictator” and “Khamenei, say hello to the end.”

Kermanshah: “Unity, Unity” echoes in the streets and universities

In western Iran, the people of Kermanshah have resumed their protests with renewed vigor. A large rally formed at the Ojagh Intersection, where the crowd chanted “Unity, Unity,” emphasizing the solidarity required to overthrow the regime. Security forces reportedly fired tear gas into the crowds in Modarres Street to disperse the demonstrators.

Simultaneously, the academic sector has formally joined the fray. Students at the Azad University of Kermanshah held a protest rally on campus. Refusing to bow to the regime’s intimidation, they chanted, “Death to the dictator” and “The student dies but accepts no humiliation,” linking their academic struggle to the nationwide demand for freedom.

Tehran and Neyshabur: Economic paralysis and youth resistance

In the capital, Tehran, the economic heartbeat of the country remains irregular. The Gold Market (jewelry row) in the Grand Bazaar remained completely closed until 11:00 AM local time. This continued strike demonstrates that the threats issued by the regime’s security apparatus have failed to break the resolve of the merchants.

Meanwhile, in Neyshabur (northeast Iran), street protests initiated by the youth have led to direct confrontations. Reports indicate that security forces attacked the protesters with tear gas, leading to skirmishes in the city’s streets.

Political prisoners in Evin and Ghezel Hesar: “We stand until the end”

In a powerful display of solidarity, political prisoners in two of the regime’s most notorious dungeons have joined the uprising.

In Evin Prison, female political prisoners gathered to sing the national anthem and chant slogans in support of the protesters. Their chants included:

  • “Political prisoners must be freed.”
  • “Woman, Resistance, Freedom.”
  • “With hijab or without hijab, onward toward revolution.”
  • “Freedom comes with ‘we can and we must’.”

Simultaneously, in Ghezel Hesar Prison, male political prisoners issued a collective statement in the form of chants, honoring the “martyrs and rebels of the 2026 uprising.” Their slogans resonated from behind the prison walls:

  • “Death to the dictator.”
  • “We swear by the blood of our comrades, we stand until the end.”
  • “For every one person killed, a thousand are behind him.”
  • “The execution republic must be overthrown.”
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Mahmoud Hakamian
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