Iran’s Second‑Week Uprising Sees PMOI Call for Democracy, 116 Dead
Updated (2 articles)
Mass Demonstrations Sweep Tehran and Provincial Cities Since late December, crowds have flooded Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan and other major cities, chanting “Death to the Dictator,” “Azadi,” and newly added slogans like “Pahlavi will return” [2]. Protesters demand the end of the Islamic Republic and, in many locales, the restoration of the monarchy [2][1]. Videos posted on social media show participants marching in daylight while buying groceries, indicating a bold shift from covert to overt dissent [2].
Casualties Mount as Security Forces Crack Down Human rights monitors tally 116 protesters killed and more than 2,600 detained over the two‑week surge [1]. Iran’s prosecutor general labeled demonstrators “enemies of God,” signaling harsher penalties, while Parliament Speaker Qalibaf warned that U.S. assets could become legitimate targets if Washington intervenes [1]. The high death toll and mass arrests underscore the regime’s willingness to treat the unrest as a national‑security emergency [1][2].
Opposition Figures Mobilize International Support Exiled monarchist Reza Pahlavi urged demonstrators to stay on the streets and pledged to join them, a call echoed in both reports [1][2]. PMOI spokesperson Shahin Gobadi declared Iran “ready for democracy” and framed the protests as an uprising for a democratic republic [1]. Former President Donald Trump signaled U.S. readiness to help if the regime continues lethal force, adding a potential foreign‑policy dimension to the crisis [1].
Youth and Women Voice Personal Grievances A 29‑year‑old Tehran resident named Sina described how protesters now speak openly while shopping, reflecting growing confidence [2]. A Tehran woman lamented that “her dreams had been stolen,” while another expressed feeling trapped between migration hopes and domestic hopelessness [2]. These testimonies illustrate how economic hardship and political repression intertwine to fuel the movement [2].
Discrepancies Between Coverage Highlight Divergent Angles The BBC article focuses on grassroots motivations, chants, and personal stories, omitting references to the PMOI and U.S. involvement [2]. Conversely, Newsweek foregrounds the PMOI’s democratic declaration, Trump’s comments, and official Iranian rhetoric, providing fewer on‑the‑ground protester quotes [1]. Both agree on the scale of unrest and Reza Pahlavi’s participation, but differ on the emphasis placed on external actors.
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: Iran opposition declares country ready for democracy amid deadly protests: Reports the PMOI’s claim that Iran is prepared for democracy, cites 116 deaths and 2,600 detentions, highlights Reza Pahlavi’s urging, and notes President Trump’s offer of U.S. support, emphasizing exiled opposition and geopolitical implications.
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BBC: Iran protests widen as crowds call for end to regime and monarchy: Describes the expanding street movement, chants for both republican change and monarchy restoration, personal testimonies from young protesters, and the increasing boldness of daylight dissent, focusing on grassroots sentiment and domestic grievances.
Timeline
Dec 2025: Protests erupt across Iran, driven by grievances over political freedoms, corruption, and a collapsing economy, and begin to grow day by day, marking the first large‑scale challenge to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. [1]
Early Jan 2026: Demonstrations swell in Tehran and major cities, with crowds openly demanding an end to the Islamic Republic and, in many places, calling for the restoration of the monarchy, signaling a broadening of opposition beyond traditional reformist circles. [1]
Jan 9, 2026: In Karaj, 29‑year‑old Sina texts the BBC that protesters speak loudly against the regime in daylight while shopping for groceries, noting that the momentum “has not faded as some expected,” and chants now include “Pahlavi will return” after Reza Pahlavi’s call to the streets. [1]
Jan 9, 2026: A Tehran woman declares, “Our dreams have been stolen; we still have a voice to shout, a fist to punch them in the face,” encapsulating personal desperation that fuels the protests. [1]
Jan 9, 2026: A Tehran resident reports that a friend and her three sisters joined the protests without their father’s knowledge, illustrating how activism cuts across family and regime‑linked lines. [1]
Jan 11, 2026: The exiled PMOI/MEK announces that Iran is “fully prepared for democracy,” framing the ongoing uprising as a bid to overthrow the regime and establish a democratic republic that rejects both the former monarchy and the current theocracy. [2]
Jan 11, 2026: Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) records 116 protesters killed and more than 2,600 detained in the two‑week wave of demonstrations, underscoring the severe security crackdown. [2]
Jan 11, 2026: Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Shah, urges demonstrators not to abandon the streets and signals his own readiness to join the protests, reinforcing royal‑era opposition support. [2]
Jan 11, 2026: Former President Donald Trump states that the United States “stands ready to help” if Iranian authorities continue killing protesters, hinting at possible U.S. involvement should the violence persist. [2]
Jan 11, 2026: Iran’s prosecutor general labels protesters “enemies of God” and threatens harsher penalties, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad‑Bagher Qalibaf warns that U.S. assets in the region could become legitimate targets if Washington attacks Iran, raising the stakes of regional escalation. [2]
Historical context (1979‑2025): Reza Pahlavi, the exiled heir of the Pahlavi dynasty, has long advocated for a return to monarchy, and his recent chant “Pahlavi will return” taps into lingering monarchist sentiment that resurfaces during crises. [1]
Historical context (2000s‑2010s): The PMOI/MEK, once listed as a U.S. foreign terrorist organization, was removed from the list in 2012 and now positions itself as a champion of democratic transition in Iran, reflecting its shift from militant opposition to political lobbying abroad. [2]