Iran Protest Crackdown Leaves Burned Streets And Smashed ATMs, Witnesses Say

Iranians were able to make international phone calls for the first time in several days on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, after authorities partially lifted a nationwide communications blackout imposed during a violent crackdown on ongoing anti-government protests. Witnesses speaking anonymously from inside the country described a heavy security presence in central Tehran, with anti-riot police officers equipped with helmets, body armor, batons, shields, shotguns, and tear gas launchers stationed at major intersections. The easing of restrictions provided a rare glimpse into the chaos gripping the capital and other areas amid one of the most significant challenges to Iran's clerical rule in recent years.

The protests, which erupted on December 28, 2025, initially began in Tehran's Grand Bazaar over a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and soaring inflation, quickly spreading nationwide to all 31 provinces. Demonstrators have voiced broader grievances, including calls for the fall of the Islamic Republic, amid economic hardship exacerbated by international sanctions, a recent 12-day conflict with Israel, and internal mismanagement. Authorities responded with an intensifying crackdown, including a near-total internet and telecommunications shutdown starting around January 8-9, 2026, aimed at disrupting coordination among protesters and limiting the flow of information about the scale of repression.

Witness accounts emerging through the newly restored phone lines painted a picture of widespread disruption in Tehran. Reports highlighted burned-out government buildings, smashed ATMs, and streets largely empty of passersby after nightfall as security forces maintained a strong patrol presence. Protesters have set fire to symbols of the regime, including Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting facilities in cities like Esfahan and damaged public infrastructure, while security forces have used live ammunition, tear gas, and mass arrests in response. The heavy militarized deployment has contributed to a tense atmosphere, with cities falling quiet under curfew-like conditions enforced by patrols.

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Human rights activists and monitoring groups, such as the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), have verified at least 646 deaths in the violence, including protesters, security personnel, and bystanders, with hundreds more under investigation. The toll reflects a significant escalation in recent days, though the communications restrictions have made comprehensive verification challenging. Hospitals in major cities like Tehran and Shiraz have reportedly been overwhelmed by casualties, many from gunshot wounds, as the regime deploys forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to suppress demonstrations.

The unrest represents the largest wave of anti-government mobilization since the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, fueled by deep-seated economic despair and political disillusionment. Authorities have accused foreign powers, including the United States and Israel, of orchestrating the demonstrations, while state media has downplayed the scale of chaos and organized pro-government rallies. As partial communications resume, the situation remains volatile, with international attention focused on the regime's response and potential further developments amid ongoing economic pressures and regional tensions.

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