نقش عوامل مسلح در اغتشاشات
نقش عوامل مسلح در اغتشاشات اخیر کشور
Extensive Presence of Terrorist Groups in the January 2026 Riots in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Discovery of Cold and Firearms
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Deputy for Legal and International Affairs
On Sunday, 28 December 2025 (corresponding to 7 Dey 1404), following an increase in the exchange rate, trade-related protest gatherings were formed by some shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar. These gatherings were motivated by economic concerns and held in response to the negative impact of currency fluctuations on commercial activities and purchasing power. The principal demand of the participants was the restoration of stability to the market and the adoption of effective measures to curb volatility in this sector. From the outset, these gatherings were peaceful in nature, trade-oriented, and focused on specific demands.
However, a large part of these peaceful protests, due to foreign interference beginning on 8 January and the sudden—yet organized—escalation of violence and armed terrorist actions, devolved into widespread violence and unrest. These developments bore no connection whatsoever to the legitimate economic demands of the initial protesters and were not endorsed or supported by the overwhelming majority of the population.
This report examines the role of violent and terrorist groups and the discovery of significant quantities of cold and firearms during these riots. As a result of the infiltration of these groups into the gatherings and among the general public, the level of tension and violence in certain areas of Iran rapidly escalated in an unpredictable manner. In practice, armed terrorist groups entered into direct clashes with law enforcement forces in western regions of the country and carried out actions aimed at producing fatalities and murdering ordinary civilians.
The evidence, indicators, and behavioral patterns observed between 8 and 10 January 2026 in various Iranian cities point to a highly precise and deliberate planning and organization by foreign-backed violent and terrorist groups. The main objectives of these groups in organizing the violence can be summarized as follows:
- Creating fear and terror among the population;
- Provoking and exploiting the emotions of adolescents and youth;
- Inflicting extensive and severe damage to public property;
- Increasing human casualties and engineering fatalities with the aim of attracting international attention (particularly following the 2 January tweet by the President of the United States stating that if Iranian police fired at people, the United States would be ready to attack Iran);
- Fully seizing control of certain areas;
- Seizing at least one police station in each target city in order to gain access to weapons depots and arm rioters so as to take control of cities (existing evidence and images from armed attacks on police centers in several major Iranian cities confirm this claim).
Some of the characteristics and patterns of violence carried out during the Januray riots include:
- The presence of armed individuals and groups among ordinary civilians;
- ISIS-like behavior, such as beheading or burning law enforcement officers (immolation or setting fire to their bodies after martyrdom);
- Targeting ordinary civilians and law enforcement personnel with the aim of engineering fatalities and increasing casualties on both sides;
- Targeting passersby who had no intention of participating in protests or riots;
- Identifying and attacking the homes of ordinary citizens who refused to participate in the unrest at the behest of rioters, after the riots had subsided;
- Leadership of riots and unrest in various cities by individuals dispatched from distant cities and other regions of Iran (to avoid identification by local residents);
- Violent with ordinary citizens who did not cooperate with their actions and behavior;
- Leading and inciting crowds to carry out widespread and indiscriminate attacks on all facilities and buildings considered governmental, as well as mosques, banks, urban buses, urban infrastructure, government offices, police centers, schools, libraries, and cultural symbols across cities;
- Deliberate damage to private property belonging to citizens with the aim of creating costs, insecurity, fear, and terror throughout society.
During the riots, numerous terrorists were arrested in various cities across the country, and significant quantities of cold and firearms were discovered. The most important cases are outlined below.
Reports published from Tehran and several other Iranian cities indicate that terrorists murdered ordinary civilians and law enforcement officers using criminal methods resembling those of professional killers—crimes previously associated with ISIS in parts of West Asia. Consequently, the severity of these crimes has raised the very serious possibility of ISIS elements being present in the Tehran riots and those in several other cities. For example, at least three cases of murder by beheading were reported during the unrest. In some cities, professional killers opened fire indiscriminately on people. There were individuals whose manner of using cold and firearms clearly indicated professional training.
In the city of Rasht, in Gilan Province in northern Iran, terrorists broke the gas pipelines of Imam Sajjad Hospital, directed the gas toward the hospital building, and then ignited it, committing horrific crimes. As a result, a nurse was trapped in the flames and burned to death, attaining martyrdom. In Tehran, terrorists apprehended a pedestrian whom they mistakenly believed to be a security officer, bound his hands and feet, placed a grenade inside his helmet, and detonated it. Images of the victim’s face, completely disintegrated by the explosion, were published by the Head of the Legal Medicine Organization of Iran.
Another terrorist tactic aimed at engineering fatalities involved spraying bullets at pedestrians and ordinary market-goers. According to reports, in some areas of Tehran as well as in several other cities, armed individuals fired machine guns from inside vehicles at civilians and passersby. As a result of these terrorist attacks, dozens of women, men, and children were martyred. Another method used by terrorists to kill civilians and police officers alike was the use of cold weapons such as knives, machetes, and swords. According to the Commander of the National Police, most of the martyrs and those killed during the incidents on the night of Thursday, 8 January, were struck by cold weapons such as knives and machetes.
These crimes were not limited to attacks against law enforcement. In western Tehran, terrorists set fire to a private bank, and the flames spread to the upper floors of the building, all of which were residential. Four residential units were engulfed by fire. While firefighting vehicles arrived to extinguish the fire and rescue innocent civilians, terrorists assaulted the firefighters and even set fire to the fire engines themselves. Ultimately, with the extensive presence and intervention of local residents, the terrorists fled, and firefighters managed to rescue 12 people from the burning buildings. Reports from across the country indicate that the scale and severity of crimes committed by terrorists were extensive and catastrophic. Slitting throats and delivering heavy blows to victims’ heads with the intent to crush their skulls were among the common methods employed.
Evidence demonstrates that during the recent street riots, terrorists carried out their criminal acts against civilians and security forces in a trained and organized manner. According to statements by the President of the Iranian Medical Council Organization, the nature and severity of injuries sustained by the wounded clearly indicate the presence of trained hostile elements in the riots.
According to Mohammad Raeeszadeh, the injuries inflicted during the recent unrest are in no way comparable to those of previous years, as it is evident that they were inflicted by trained individuals. Some victims reported being shot at close range from within the crowd, indicating the presence of armed individuals among protesters. In one case, a grenade was detonated directly in a victim’s face, leaving nothing of the eyes, nose, cheeks, or face. In another case, a law enforcement officer was struck in the face with a concrete block and stones.
Arrest of sabotage and assassination ringleaders in Tehran / Discovery of a large shipment of technical and electronic items:
Based on an announcement by the Ministry of Intelligence on January 15, 2025, a number of key elements of the recent unrest in Tehran were identified and arrested; also, a large shipment of technical and electronic items usable for sabotage was discovered. These saboteurs had carried out destructive and assassination activities in public places, religious sites, and against security forces in 7 locations in Tehran (Ekbatan Town, Ferdows Street, Shahid Lashgari Street, the first and second Sadeghieh squares, the Coca-Cola intersection on Pirouzi Street, and the Abuzar neighborhood); including setting fire to Imam Sadegh Mosque in the first Sadeghieh square and Jame' Abuzar Mosque, martyring two Basij members in District 13, and blocking Shahid Lashgari Highway with the aim of disrupting public order and creating unrest and insecurity. Also, a large shipment of technical and electronic items usable for espionage and sabotage that had been illegally imported into the country was discovered.
Arrest of a suspect who was shooting from his window in Naziabad
This individual was arrested while shooting and in an armed state, and confessed that he had fired with the aim of killing officers defending people's security.
Arrest of the killer of the police commander of Halilan in Ilam province
The killer of martyr "Nowruz Shariati", the police commander of Halilan city in Ilam province, was arrested during the unrest along with a firearm.
Discovery of a safe house of armed rioters in Azadshahr / Arrest of main ringleaders:
Following recent unrest in "Azadshahr" city in Golestan province, attacks were carried out and several government places such as the governorate, banks and ATMs, citizens' personal property, a number of shops and stores were set on fire. According to Adineh, the governor of Azadshahr, so far more than 1000 billion Rials in damage has been estimated from the attack by armed rioters on public property. Following public reports to intelligence and security agencies, a safe house of armed rioters was also identified. Security forces arrested one of the main ringleaders of the armed unrest in this county at this safe house. The accused in his statements after arrest emphasized that his other accomplices were also shooting at both people and guardians of order and security with single and double-barrel guns. This accused also stated that he used 4 liters of gasoline to set fire to people's cars in this city and attacked public property, people's property, and security and law enforcement forces with swords, machetes, Molotov cocktails, etc.
The heart-wrenching accounts of the Head of the Iranian Medical Council regarding the manner of recent killings
The Head of the Iranian Medical Council, in an interview with domestic media, provides a brief report on the manner of fatalities and injuries during the unrest on January 8th and 9th, particularly in Tehran, which indicates a clearly organized effort by terrorists and rioters to cause fatalities. According to his statements, there were numerous cases of individuals who sustained severe injuries from multiple stab wounds at very close range. In other instances, ordinary people were shot with firearms at close range from behind, indicating the shots were fired by individuals within the crowds. He stated that on these two nights, at least 900 law enforcement personnel sustained very severe injuries, with at least half requiring one or multiple surgeries for treatment. Based on preliminary findings by the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, the nature and patterns of violence against ordinary citizens and law enforcement personnel were such that they could not possibly have been carried out by ordinary, untrained citizens. It is certain that there were groups and individuals among the ordinary people who had received the necessary professional training to escalate the level of violence and cause fatalities.
The reaction of the criminal Reza Pahlavi to the killings in the unrest: War has casualties!
American CBS network host in the program CLASH REPORT addressing Reza Pahlavi: Is sending citizens in Iran to their deaths a responsible act? Do you consider yourself responsible in this regard? Reza Pahlavi: This is war, and war has casualties!
A student who fell victim to direct fire from terrorists
Martyr Ilya Abbasi, an Amol student who, during the recent sedition by rioters, stood up to support his fellow citizens until his blood was shed. Abbasi was a 21-year-old student in the seventh semester of law at Shomal Amol University at the undergraduate level, who was martyred by rioters during the unrest in recent days. This martyr from Amol city in Mazandaran province, during these riots, accompanied several members of his religious association to help popular forces control the chaotic atmosphere of Amol city from the presence of terrorist elements, and on the route of Taleb Amoli Boulevard in this city, he was martyred by direct gunfire from some rioters. According to some eyewitnesses, mercenary elements affiliated with counter-revolutionary groups, using a personal car that was also unlicensed, passed over the half-alive body of Ilya Abbasi at the peak of cruelty.
Attack by armed rioters on Arash Women's Hospital with indiscriminate shootings
During the unrest on Thursday and Friday, January 8 and 9, 2025, in Tehran city, even though attacking hospitals is prohibited even in wars, rioters damaged a maternity hospital in east Tehran.
Blow by the Ministry of Intelligence to terrorists in Kerman
According to a report from the General Intelligence Department of Kerman province, 6 main agents, so-called ringleaders of the unrest and terrorist operations in Kerman, were identified and arrested. Two of these ringleaders, while procuring firearms, attempted to create a 20-person network for widespread and targeted destruction in recent terrorist riots. These individuals were continuously filming important military locations in the province and seeking to send images and coordinates of these centers to an element affiliated with Mossad abroad, but were unsuccessful due to internet disruption. Several firearms, stun guns, tear gas sprays, and a quantity of explosive structures for bomb-making were discovered and seized from these individuals. The third person is a notorious criminal with a record and on the run in Kerman, who was one of the main field agents of the unrest and setting fire to large stores in Kerman, and was arrested in his hideout in Bam county. The fourth person from the ringleaders of the unrest is connected to members of the terrorist Kurdistan Democratic Party, and while communicating with elements affiliated with that group and inciting destruction of public property, was seeking to procure military weapons and strike security personnel.
Arrest of 2 perpetrators of attacks on military bases in Borujerd county
According to a report from the Public Relations Center of the Law Enforcement Command of Lorestan province, security forces of Borujerd county identified and arrested two individuals who had attacked military bases and public places using homemade and incendiary bombs.
Identification and arrest of the terrorist team involved in the armed attack on Police Station 126 in Tehran Pars
A terrorist team that had entered the country from western borders with the intention of killing during the recent riots and committed crimes in Tehran was identified and arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence. Elements of this terrorist team on the evening of January 8, 2025, using military weapons and firing more than 850 rounds with the intention of seizing the law enforcement center and looting the weapons there, carried out an armed attack on Police Station 126 in Tehran Pars, Tehran, causing the martyrdom of several personnel of the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA), Basij, and people. During another operation, these terrorists fired at operational forces, and in the ensuing exchange of fire, one of the armed terrorists was killed and four others were arrested.
Discovery of American weapons and explosive equipment from several terrorist teams
Several terrorist teams guided by the Zionist regime that had entered the country from eastern borders and were stationed in seven safe houses in Zahedan were identified and arrested. These individuals had received specialized training in sabotage and assassination abroad and intended to blow up service infrastructure and carry out terrorist operations. Various American weapons and explosive equipment were discovered and seized from these terrorist teams.
Arrest of two rioters and discovery of raw materials for homemade bombs
After technical and intelligence monitoring, the hideout of two identified rioter elements in Kermanshah province was identified and they were arrested. In this operation, from the arrested rioters, one military weapon (Colt pistol) along with two magazine clips and 45 rounds of 7mm ammunition, 18 Kalashnikov rounds, one axe, 6 cold weapons (knives and machetes), 75 shotgun shells, 332 grenade fuses, about 400 liters of gasoline for making homemade bombs, one rifle scope, and 86 rounds of light weapon ammunition were discovered and seized.
Detention of a 5-member terrorist team affiliated with the separatist Komala group in Khorramabad city
A five-member terrorist team affiliated with the Komala group in Khorramabad city, the center of Lorestan, was identified and its members were detained. This terrorist team active in the unrest had obtained one Kalashnikov rifle with 250 rounds of military ammunition.
The 10-member team of perpetrators of the Heravi Square crime in Tehran city were detained
The Ministry of Intelligence in a statement announced the detention of the perpetrators of the Heravi Square crime in Tehran. The 10-member team of perpetrators of the Heravi Square crime in Tehran city were detained. This terrorist team on January 7, 2025, brutally martyred two security personnel. This terrorist team had recently entered Tehran from a border province and were stationed in a safe house. The detained elements made important confessions about setting fire to mosques, banks, and people's property.
Discovery of a shipment of firearms for use in unrest
Based on an announcement by the Ministry of Intelligence, a shipment including 100 handguns and 120 hunting weapons was discovered on January 7, 2025, in West Azerbaijan, and 4 people were arrested in this regard.
Arrest of two Mossad agents in North Khorasan
Two spies connected to Mossad were arrested in North Khorasan province. These two played a role as main network leaders of the terrorist organization Mossad in organizing widespread unrest and violence. Communication and espionage tools and military weapons with a quantity of ammunition were discovered from these two spies.
Arrest of 16 agents of unrest and destruction of public places in Lorestan province
With intelligence oversight by law enforcement agents and public cooperation in Delfan city in Lorestan province, 9 agents of unrest were arrested during a rapid operation, and from these individuals, seven military weapons and one hunting weapon were discovered and seized.
Discovery of 60,000 cold weapons and firearms from rioters
Based on an announcement by the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA), 60,000 firearms and cold weapons were discovered in Bushehr province, and the destination of these weapons was Tehran.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: Identification and destruction of 12 organized terrorist and espionage networks in Kerman province
Using public reports, in recent days more than 12 organized terrorist and espionage networks affiliated with the American and Zionist axis, which played a fundamental role in organizing, directing, and carrying out terrorist actions in Kerman province, have been identified, destroyed, and dismantled.