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Date: October 8, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
Iran has intensified a sweeping campaign against protesters and perceived opponents of the government, using arrests, closed-door trials, executions, televised confessions and other forms of intimidation to suppress dissent during the country’s continuing conflict, according to a Reuters investigation.
The investigation found evidence of a coordinated effort involving Iran’s security forces, judiciary and state-controlled media. The campaign has targeted people inside Iran as well as Iranians living abroad, with authorities seeking to discourage further protests by creating fear not only among those accused but also among their families and wider communities.
Reuters examined cases involving protesters detained since mass anti-government demonstrations erupted in January 2026. The investigation found that authorities have increasingly relied on rapid prosecutions and executions, proceedings held behind closed doors and public presentations of alleged crimes on state television.
Iranian state media has repeatedly broadcast videos of people accused of opposing the government, including purported confessions and staged re-enactments of alleged offences. Such broadcasts have become part of a broader effort to demonstrate the consequences of challenging the authorities and to discourage other Iranians from joining demonstrations.
The crackdown follows nationwide protests that erupted in January amid anger over deteriorating economic conditions and broader opposition to the government. Iranian authorities eventually suppressed the demonstrations, and rights organizations have reported large numbers of deaths and arrests.
Reuters reported that many Iranians now appear reluctant to return to the streets because of the consequences they fear could follow. People contacted as part of the investigation described an atmosphere in which the possibility of arrest, prosecution or punishment of relatives has become a powerful deterrent to renewed demonstrations.
The use of the death penalty has been particularly prominent. On October 5, Iranian authorities executed Alireza Sepahi and Alireza Raeisi, two men who had been arrested in connection with the January protests in Isfahan. Iran's judiciary said they had been convicted of charges including membership in an armed rebel organization, carrying weapons and causing public fear, spreading corruption on earth and involvement in the deaths of four police officers. Their convictions and death sentences were upheld by Iran's Supreme Court, according to the judiciary's Mizan news agency.
Rights groups have raised concerns about due process in cases involving protesters and political opponents. The allegations include closed proceedings and the use of coercive methods against detainees. These claims cannot always be independently verified because reporting from inside Iran is heavily restricted.
The repression has also extended beyond Iran's borders. Reuters examined cases involving Iranians living abroad who said they had experienced intimidation or pressure because of their political activities. One case involved Reza Saeed Afkhamolshoara, a former legal adviser living in Armenia, who said Iranian authorities delayed renewing his passport because of his involvement in anti-government protests.
Another Iranian living in Armenia, identified by Reuters as Ashkan, said local security officers warned him and other Iranian protesters that they faced risks including kidnapping and assassination because of their political activities.
The targeting of opponents abroad reflects a broader concern over what rights organizations describe as transnational repression. Iranian authorities have previously been accused of pressuring activists, journalists and dissidents outside the country, including through threats against relatives who remain in Iran.
The latest campaign is unfolding against the backdrop of a wider war that has placed additional pressure on Iran's political leadership. The conflict has damaged infrastructure, disrupted the economy and increased the government's concerns about internal instability.
Reuters reported earlier that Iranian officials have been particularly concerned that worsening economic conditions could trigger another wave of protests once the intensity of the conflict decreases. The authorities have therefore moved aggressively to prevent potential unrest from gaining momentum.
The economic pressure is significant. Years of sanctions had already weakened Iran's economy before the current conflict, while damage to energy infrastructure and disruptions to oil exports have added to the country's difficulties. The closure and disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has also affected Iran's economic position and contributed to wider global energy-market uncertainty.
Iran's security apparatus has responded by increasing its presence in cities and using checkpoints, patrols and other measures designed to prevent public gatherings from developing into demonstrations. Authorities have also organized pro-government rallies and public ceremonies, occupying streets and public spaces that could otherwise become gathering points for protesters.
The government's campaign has not been limited to political activists. Reuters reported that dissidents, members of ethnic and religious minorities and people accused of sharing information about military strikes have also faced pressure. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have separately documented arbitrary detention, torture allegations and restrictions against minority communities.
International human rights investigators have also expressed concern about the scale of executions and prosecutions. A March presentation by the United Nations human rights system reported a sharp increase in executions and described mass arrests, torture allegations and the prosecution of people for expressing political views or calling for peace. The UN also warned that repression had affected ethnic and religious minorities and Iranians living abroad.
The Iranian government has maintained that its security measures are necessary to protect national security and confront threats from armed groups and foreign adversaries. Iranian authorities have also accused some protesters and dissidents of cooperating with foreign governments, allegations that opponents reject.
The Reuters investigation, however, points to a broader pattern in which the state's security apparatus, judiciary and state media reinforce one another. Arrests and prosecutions are followed by highly publicized reports of convictions, executions or televised confessions, creating what Reuters described as a campaign intended to instill fear among the wider population.
The crackdown is taking place while Iran remains under military and economic pressure from its conflict with the United States and its regional allies. Tehran is simultaneously attempting to maintain control at home, protect its military capabilities and negotiate over issues including sanctions, oil exports, the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program.
The combination of external military pressure and internal repression has created a difficult environment for Iranian civilians and political opponents. International organizations have called for an end to arbitrary detention, torture and executions and for greater respect for due process and freedom of expression.
For protesters and dissidents inside Iran, the consequences of renewed political activity can be severe. For those living abroad, the Reuters investigation indicates that leaving the country does not necessarily eliminate the risks associated with political opposition.
As Iran continues to face military confrontation and economic pressure, the government's expanding campaign against dissent has become a second front of the crisis—one fought not on a battlefield, but through arrests, courts, prisons, executions and the control of information.