How Iran Crushed a Citizen Uprising With Lethal Force

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 15 min read 100% complete by Farnaz Fassihi, Sanjana Varghese, Malachy Browne and Parin BehroozJanuary 25, 2026 at 11:34 AM

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long article 15 min

In early January 2026, widespread protests erupted across Iran, fueled by economic hardship and encouraged by external support. In response, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered security forces to suppress the uprising by any means necessary. Security forces were deployed with orders to shoot to kill. The crackdown involved security forces opening fire on protesters in numerous cities, including Tehran, Karaj, and Isfahan. Despite internet shutdowns, Iranians shared videos documenting the violence, which the New York Times verified. The Times also collected testimonies from medical staff and interviewed protesters and relatives of victims, all of whom requested anonymity due to fear of retribution.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Ahvaz 30% Rasht 30% Shiraz ×240% Karaj 40% Isfahan ×250% Donald Trump 50% Supreme National Security Council 60% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 70% Tehran ×580% Iran ×690%

Keywords

citizen uprising 90% iran 90% lethal force 80% security forces 80% protests 70% crackdown 70% shoot to kill 60% economic crisis 50% ayatollah ali khamenei 50%