Live report | Friday, January 9, 2026
The nationwide uprising against the religious dictatorship in Iran has entered its thirteenth day on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Following a turbulent twelfth day, which saw general strikes across western Iran and the martyrdom of eight protesters in Lordegan, the flame of resistance has spread to the southeast. On Friday, the brave people of Zahedan took to the streets after prayers, defying a massive security presence and a near-total internet blackout aimed at concealing the regime’s atrocities.
Day 13 Roundup: Zahedan protests, regime threats, and resilience in the face of massacre
On Friday, January 9, 2026, the uprising continued with intensity in Sistan and Baluchestan province, while the people of Tehran and Karaj returned to the streets, defying the previous night’s lethal crackdown.
Key highlights from today include:
- Zahedan Uprising: Massive crowds gathered near the Makki Mosque after Friday prayers, chanting “Down with the dictator” and “Down with Khamenei.” Security forces in Zahedan opened fire on demonstrators using live ammunition, birdshot, and tear gas.
- Defiance in Tehran and Karaj: Despite reports of a “massacre” and killings by security forces on Thursday night, residents of major districts in Tehran and Karaj returned to the streets, setting up roadblocks and forcing security forces to flee in some areas.
- Regime Centers Torched in Mashhad: In a significant escalation, protesters in Mashhad set fire to seminaries used as staging grounds for Basij paramilitary forces.
- Women Lead the Way: Women in Zahedan played a pivotal role, chanting unity slogans linking their struggle to the capital: “From Zahedan to Tehran, my life for Iran.”
- Opposition Leadership: Mrs. Maryam Rajavi saluted the “rebellious youth who deprived the clerical regime of sleep” and the Baluch women who chanted for the regime’s overthrow.
- Digital Blockade: NetBlocks confirmed that Iran has been offline for 12 hours with national connectivity flatlining at 1%, a desperate move to hide the regime’s brutality.
Update—22:00 CET
Nationwide defiance: Protesters return to the streets in Tehran and Karaj despite previous night’s massacre
As night fell on the thirteenth day of the uprising, the people of Iran displayed extraordinary resilience. Despite a brutal crackdown and reports of a massacre committed by regime forces on Thursday night, courageous protesters have returned to the streets in Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, and Shiraz.
January 9—Tehran, Iran
Despite the killings carried out on the previous night by the regime's security forces and under the order of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, the people of Yusef Abad returned to the streets and chanted, "This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei]… pic.twitter.com/fuVas06Bi3— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 9, 2026
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, saluted the brave protesters, stating, “Salute to the courageous people and rebellious youth who, on the twelfth night of the uprising across Iran, deprived the clerical regime and its criminal leaders of sleep.” She specifically highlighted the determination of the people to continue the uprising until the “ultimate goal is achieved,” honoring the martyrs who have fallen in recent days.
Salute to the courageous people and rebellious youth who, on the twelfth night of the uprising across Iran, deprived the clerical regime and its criminal leaders of sleep, directing their anger against the centers of repression and plunder and the symbols of execution and…
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 9, 2026
Tehran: Capital rises from the ashes; Forces flee in Sa’adat Abad
In Tehran, the atmosphere is charged with defiance. The regime’s attempt to quell the uprising through lethal force has failed. In the Sa’adat Abad district, the youth not only returned to the streets but overwhelmed the regime’s security forces, forcing them to flee the scene.
Across the capital, districts that witnessed heavy suppression last night are once again active:
January 9—Tehran, Iran
The people of Zafaraniyeh returned for nightly protests, chanting, "Down with the dictator!"#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/w4a8qGbCPZ— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 9, 2026
- Shariati & Yusef Abad: Residents returned to the streets despite the previous night’s killings, chanting “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!”
- Janat Abad & Zafaraniyeh: Nightly rallies resumed with the core slogan, “Down with the dictator!”
- Moshiriyeh & Andarzgoo: Protesters have moved to active resistance, setting up roadblocks and lighting fires to impede the movement of suppression units. Protests also targeted the municipality building in Moshiriyeh.
- Ekbatan & Chitgar: In Ekbatan, the chants of “Don’t be afraid, we are all together” echoed through the blocks. In Chitgar, protesters rejected the regime’s foreign interventions, chanting, “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life for Iran!”
- East Tehran: Reports confirm that a regime building was completely burned down during the protests.
Karaj: “You are ISIS!” — People confront the Basij in Fardis
In Fardis, a district of Karaj (northern Iran) where the regime reportedly carried out a brutal massacre just 24 hours ago, the people have refused to surrender. Nightly rallies have resumed with intense anti-regime slogans. Protesters directly confronted the regime’s paramilitary forces, chanting, “Basij, IRGC, to us, you are ISIS,” drawing a direct parallel between the regime’s tactics and terrorists. They also chanted, “We won’t have a country until the mullahs are gone!”
January 9—Karaj, northern Iran
The people of Fardis held nightly protest rallies. Protesters are chanting, "Basij, IRGC, to us, you are ISIS" and "We won't have a country until the mullahs are gone!"
It is worth noting that this is the same district where the regime reportedly… pic.twitter.com/veKn6fW5A5— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 9, 2026
Protests also resumed in the Golshahr district, further proving that the crackdown in Alborz province has failed to silence the population.
Mashhad: Seminaries used by Basij set on fire
In Mashhad, the uprising has taken a fiery turn. On the 13th night, huge crowds rallied to call for the overthrow of the mullahs. In a significant act of defiance against the regime’s ideological and repressive machinery, protesters set fire to regime buildings, including seminaries that have been used to rally and house Basij units. Slogans of “Down with Khamenei” and “Down with the dictator” are being heard across the city.
January 9—Mashhad, northeast Iran
Protesters returned to the streets on the 13th night of the nationwide uprising, chanting, "Down with the dictator" and "Down with Khamenei!"#IranProtests #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/oF8LeLfbHt— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 9, 2026
Shiraz: Roadblocks and “Year of Blood”
In Shiraz (southern Iran), the protests have intensified into the night. Footage from the city shows protesters setting up roadblocks and lighting fires to control the streets. The demonstrators are chanting, “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!” and “Down with the dictator!”
Central Iran: Isfahan, Qom, and Fuladshahr join the night
The uprising continues to hold its ground in central Iran.
- Isfahan: Nightly protests continued with chants of “Down with the dictator!”
- Qom: In the religious heartland of the regime, the people of the Zanbil Abad district held rallies chanting “Down with the dictator!”
- Fuladshahr: Residents joined the 13th night of the nationwide uprising with protest rallies.
January 9—Qom, central Iran
The people of Zanbil Abad district held nightly protest rallies and chanted, "Down with the dictator!"#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/hYtVgCeObs— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 9, 2026
Update—14:00 CET
Zahedan: Protesters brave live fire and tear gas; “Death to the dictator” echoes near Makki Mosque
On the thirteenth day of the nationwide uprising, the people of Zahedan (southeast Iran) have once again proven that the regime’s brutal suppression cannot silence the demand for freedom. Reports indicate that despite a heavy security atmosphere and a severe internet blackout, the courageous Baluch citizens poured into the streets.
More footage of protests by women in Zahedan, chanting "Down with the dictator" and "Down with Khamenei!"#IranProtests #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/OXYAcc5gbr
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 9, 2026
At noon on Friday, January 9, coinciding with the end of Friday prayers, a large number of citizens gathered in the streets surrounding the Makki Mosque in Zahedan. They launched a demonstration, chanting anti-regime slogans including “Death to the dictator” and “Down with Khamenei,” explicitly targeting the regime’s Supreme Leader.
Regime opens fire on unarmed civilians
Fearing the expansion of the protests, the regime’s military and security forces stationed in the area immediately resorted to violence. Video footage and field reports confirm that repressive forces fired extensive tear gas and birdshot at the crowd. More disturbingly, reports confirm that security forces have opened direct fire with live ammunition to disperse the demonstrators.
January 9—Zahedan, southeast Iran
During today's protest rallies, security forces opened fire on demonstrators.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/w34YPrmLVN— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 9, 2026
While several protesters have been injured during this crackdown, the exact number of casualties and their condition remains unknown due to the severe disruption of the internet and the intense security blockade. Eyewitnesses have reported a massive deployment of suppression forces around the Makki Mosque and the streets leading to the gathering point.
In a display of national unity and defiance, women in Zahedan held a protest rally, chanting slogans that bridge the ethnic and geographic divides the regime tries to exploit. Their chant, “From Zahedan to Tehran, my life for Iran,” signifies the solidarity of the Baluch people with their compatriots in the capital and across the nation who have been protesting for the past 13 days.
Tehran Governor threatens protesters with lethal force
As the uprising spreads, the regime’s officials are dropping all pretenses of tolerance. In a blatant threat to the lives of protesters, the regime’s governor in Tehran, explicitly spoke of using weapons against the people.
Speaking on January 7, the governor used the regime’s standard tactic of labeling legitimate political dissent as “riots” to justify violence. He stated: “Protest, as I said, is completely different from rioting… Rioting has its own specific conditions. If it leads to destruction, confrontation, or attacks on bases, the necessary response will be carried out.”
He openly threatened that if protests escalate to what he terms “confrontation,” the regime will resort to using weapons. These remarks reflect the regime’s official policy of justifying naked violence against a population that has risen up against poverty and tyranny.
Nationwide Internet Blackout: Regime attempts to hide its crimes
In a desperate attempt to suppress the sweeping protests and cover up reports of brutality, the regime has imposed a near-total digital blockade.
⚠️ Update: #Iran has now been offline for 12 hours with national connectivity flatlining at ~1% of ordinary levels, after authorities imposed a national internet blackout in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests while covering up reports of regime brutality 📉 pic.twitter.com/furKo81BA3
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 9, 2026
NetBlocks, the internet observatory organization, reported early this morning that Iran has been offline for 12 hours. National connectivity has flatlined at approximately 1% of ordinary levels. This blackout is specifically designed to prevent the coordination of protests and to stop footage of the regime’s crackdown—such as the shooting of protesters in Zahedan—from reaching the outside world.