PMOI-received reports describe nearly two weeks of continuous protests, armed confrontations, mass arrests, and alleged mass burials in Iran’s second-largest city from December 29, 2025, onward.
Mashhad, Iran – According to extensive field reports received by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), the city of Mashhad became one of the central arenas of confrontation during the January 2026 nationwide uprising. Eyewitness accounts describe nearly uninterrupted protests from late December 2025 through late January 2026, marked by expanding public participation, armed clashes, and an increasingly lethal response by state forces.
The following account consolidates these reports and presents a chronological overview of events.
December 29, 2025: Protests Erupt in Central Mashhad
On Monday, December 29, demonstrations reportedly began on Saadi Street, quickly spreading to Ferdowsi Crossroads and Shohada Square. With the arrival of security forces, clashes broke out.
According to eyewitnesses:
- Protesters threw stones and improvised objects at advancing forces.
- Security personnel responded with batons and tear gas.
- Tensions escalated rapidly, setting the pattern for the days that followed.
December 30–January 1: Expansion Across Neighborhoods
On Tuesday, December 30, protests reportedly spread to Ahmadabad and the bazaar, where shopkeepers closed their businesses in solidarity. On Wednesday, university students joined demonstrations, significantly increasing crowd size and momentum.
By Thursday, January 1, protests were reported in Daneshjou Square and Rahnamayi Boulevard, with chants explicitly targeting the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
January 2–4: Strikes, Clashes, and Intensifying Slogans
On Friday, January 2, strikes and protests reportedly expanded to Falahati Boulevard, Reza Bazaar, the 17 Shahrivar commercial complex, and Ahmadabad. Road closures imposed by security forces in Ahmadabad reportedly triggered violent confrontations, forcing police units to retreat under pressure from protesters.
Over the weekend of January 3–4, chants such as “Death to the dictator” and “This year is the year of blood—Khamenei will be overthrown” were reported widely. Security forces allegedly fired live ammunition while attempting targeted arrests of active participants.
January 6: Prolonged Clashes and Nighttime Resistance
On Tuesday, January 6, demonstrations reportedly resumed in Reza Bazaar, the 17 Shahrivar complex, and Falahati Boulevard, extending toward Emarat-e Zafaran crossroads. Security forces used sustained tear gas throughout the day, while protesters chanted slogans rejecting humiliation and submission.
That night, roadblocks were reportedly erected in Vakilabad using burning tires. In Qasemabad, large crowds clashed with motorcycle units, forcing them to retreat. Reports indicate that security forces opened fire, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities.
January 7: Mass Demonstrations and Armed Confrontations
On Wednesday, January 7, large-scale demonstrations reportedly began in the morning from Haft-e Tir Square, moving toward Saremi Boulevard and Hashemieh, with crowds estimated at approximately 5,000 before swelling significantly as they advanced toward Vakilabad.
According to reports:
- Security vehicles and motorcycles were set ablaze.
- Several security personnel were overpowered and disarmed.
- Police kiosks and regime installations were burned in neighborhoods including Kouy-e Amir.
- Three buses transporting security forces were set on fire in Tabarsi and near Fajr Bridge.
In central Mashhad, protesters reportedly attacked a detention cage holding detainees and freed those inside. The Malek Ashtar base on South Khayyam Street was reportedly set on fire.
January 8–9: Attacks on Police Stations and Escalating Casualties
On Thursday, January 8, protests resumed from the city center with chants calling for freedom and the downfall of clerical rule. In Vakilabad, demonstrators reportedly attacked and set fire to a police station, seizing weapons. Security forces responded with live fire, resulting in reported deaths.
On Friday, January 9, clashes intensified further. Field reports claim:
- More than ten buses carrying security forces were burned.
- Multiple regime-affiliated centers were set on fire.
- One Basij member was reportedly killed during clashes.
- Nighttime protests continued in Noudeh and Vakilabad, with roadblocks erected using fire.
January 10–12: Arson Attacks and Allegations of Mass Burials
On Saturday, January 10, large demonstrations reportedly took place again in Vakilabad. Protesters allegedly set fire to the Mashhad provincial headquarters of state television and radio. Major streets—including Haft-e Tir, Emamat, Honarestan, Azadi Square, 17 Shahrivar, Tabarsi, and Talabeh—were reported as heavily congested and unrest-filled.
Banks and police stations were reportedly attacked and destroyed in multiple locations. Nighttime clashes included direct fire by security forces, with reports of additional fatalities.
On Sunday, January 11, armed confrontations reportedly continued in several districts, with some regime forces allegedly killed during clashes.
On Monday, January 12, a police kiosk was reportedly set on fire at Telecommunications Crossroads, while security forces near Qasemabad Police Station allegedly used heavy weapons and military-grade tear gas, including choking agents and stun grenades.
Civil Resistance, Strikes, and Citywide Disruption
Witnesses report that most shops across Mashhad were closed, with the exception of limited grocery stores and branches of the IRGC-linked Ofogh Kourosh chain. Public transportation was severely restricted, with buses operating only until early morning hours and the metro reportedly shut down.
Despite heavy repression, eyewitnesses describe sustained public participation across all age groups, from children to elderly citizens, often involving entire families.
Allegations of Secret Burials and Coerced Confessions
Some of the most disturbing claims in the reports concern the handling of the dead. According to multiple sources:
- Large burial pits were allegedly dug at Behesht-e Rezvan cemetery, where approximately 200 bodies were reportedly buried without identification.
- Some victims were allegedly transferred to other cities for burial without family consent.
- Families were reportedly pressured to sign false statements claiming victims were killed by opposition groups or were members of regime forces.
- Refusal to sign such documents allegedly resulted in bodies being withheld.
One stonemason reportedly stated that more than 140 gravestones were ordered for young men and women born between 1979 and 1986, suggesting a high number of youthful victims.
A City Under Siege
According to PMOI-received field reports, Mashhad experienced days in which large parts of the city were effectively paralyzed by strikes, roadblocks, and continuous clashes. While security forces ultimately deployed heavier weaponry to reassert control, eyewitnesses describe a city that, for weeks, openly challenged state authority despite lethal consequences.
