'I was hit in the face by pellets': Iranians on border describe violence and more protests

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete January 16, 2026 at 01:02 PM

AI Summary

medium article 4 min

At the Iran-Iraq border, the BBC spoke with Iranians crossing into Iraqi Kurdistan despite internet and phone blockades. While no one claimed to be fleeing the protests, one man reported being shot in the face with pellets by security forces during a protest last Friday in central Iran. He and others are avoiding medical treatment due to fear of arrest. Despite the government's crackdown, which has reportedly killed around 2,500 people, demonstrations continued at least into this week in areas like Fardis, Malard, and Tehran. The Iranian regime views the protests as a significant threat, and while the crackdown has reduced protest activity, some continue despite the risks.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Fardis 40% Malard 40% Tehran 50% Bashmaq border crossing 60% Security Forces (Iran) ×370% Ayatollah Khomeini 70% Iran's regime 80% Iraqi Kurdistan ×280% Iran ×690%

Keywords

iran 90% protests 90% government crackdown 80% security forces 70% pellet rounds 60% border crossing 60% live ammunition 50% iraqi kurdistan 50% arrests 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

Source Transparency

Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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iran protests government crackdown security forces pellet rounds border crossing live ammunition iraqi kurdistan arrests

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