More than 50,000 people have been arrested across Iran since late December amid ongoing nationwide protests, according to figures cited by sources referenced by Reuters. The arrests span the period from 30 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, during which demonstrations have continued in dozens of cities despite an intensified security crackdown.
Security forces have carried out widespread detentions through surprise raids on homes, neighbourhoods, and closed workplaces, the sources said. In some cases, groups of protesters were detained en masse at demonstration sites, with an unknown number later released. The lack of transparency has made it difficult to determine the exact scale of arrests.
The figures are based on cross-checked information gathered from more than 140 cities, including accounts from eyewitnesses, families of detainees, local workers, and individuals who have been held in detention. Human rights observers warn that the true number may be higher, as many arrests go unreported, particularly in smaller towns and informal detention facilities.
Calls have intensified for an independent international fact-finding mission, with rights groups stressing that only unrestricted access to prisons and detention centres would allow for a full and accurate assessment of the situation.
