Widespread anti-government protests across Iran in January 2026 have escalated sharply, with more than 30 mosques reportedly set on fire as demonstrators target symbols of the Islamic Republic’s religious and political authority.
According to international media reports, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani said on January 10 that over 30 mosques had been torched during the unrest.
Verified video footage circulating online showed the Al-Rasool Mosque in Tehran engulfed in flames on January 9. Fires were also reported at mosques in the Gholhak and Sa’adat Abad neighborhoods of northern Tehran.
Unrest has spread beyond the capital. In the southeastern city of Zahedan, protests near the Makki Mosque turned violent, with reports of clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
Witnesses said security personnel opened fire as crowds gathered near the mosque.
The protests were initially sparked by a sharp fall in Iran’s national currency, soaring inflation, and rising living costs. However, demonstrations have increasingly taken on a political tone, with protesters chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Death to Khamenei,” signaling a direct challenge to the ruling system.
Iranian authorities have issued strong warnings, with Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei vowing harsh punishment for what he described as “saboteurs.”
At least seven people, including protesters and security personnel, have reportedly been killed. Authorities have also imposed a nationwide internet shutdown in an effort to contain the unrest and limit the spread of information.
