Iran says 3,000 people arrested as antigovernment protests subside

Al JazeeraCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 16, 2026 at 10:28 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

In Iran, authorities report at least 3,000 arrests following weeks of anti-government protests that began in late December 2025 due to soaring inflation and currency devaluation. As of January 16, 2026, Tehran and other cities are comparatively calm with a heavy security presence, though internet access remains largely unavailable for the eighth consecutive day. Iranian leaders have blamed foreign entities for fueling the unrest, while human rights groups claim over 1,000 protesters have been killed. The Iranian government reports at least 100 security officers were also killed. The US President had threatened military action but has since softened his stance.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Tohid Asadi ×230% Al Jazeera ×240% NetBlocks 40% Israel 50% Donald Trump ×260% United States ×270% Tehran ×580% Iran ×1090%

Keywords

iran 90% antigovernment protests 90% internet shutdown 80% arrests 70% security forces 60% us 50% devaluation 50% inflation 50% human rights 40% military action 40%