Sixth day of protests; security measures tightened in Tehran, demonstrations continue in other cities

As security measures in Tehran have been tightened, state-run news agencies in Iran have reported "relative calm" in the capital, while protests continued in some Iranian cities on Tuesday, January 12.

According to ISNA, the deputy political and security director of the Tehran governor's office said that "no gatherings took place on Tuesday night in any of the areas of Tehran that witnessed unrest in previous nights, and the city is extremely secure."

However, television images and photos from state-run news agencies indicate a large presence of security forces and riot police on the streets of Tehran.

Images of protest demonstrations in Gohar Dasht, Karaj, Alborz Province, have been posted on social media. However, the Iranian Radio and Television Agency, citing security and law enforcement officials in Karaj, announced that the city was quiet on Tuesday night.

In this context, the Chief Justice of Alborz announced on Tuesday that holding any type of trade union gathering in the province is prohibited until further notice.

According to ISNA, Ahmad Fazelian said, "From today until further notice, in order to prevent abuse by rioters and opponents, no union or non-union gatherings will be allowed, and any type of gathering is an example of an illegal movement against the country's security, and those responsible will be dealt with."

Some reports on social media indicate that a protest rally was held in Ahvaz on Tuesday. Reuters, citing Ahvaz residents, wrote that officers fired tear gas at the protesters.

Images of protests in the city of Hamedan have also been published.

Reports published on social media indicate that protest rallies have been held in Khomeini Shahr, Abadan, Dezful, and Masjed Soleyman.

This comes as the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) reports that two motorcyclists, passing in front of the governor's office in Lanjan County, Isfahan Province, targeted a security kiosk where a police officer and two conscripts were stationed with a shotgun.

The report adds that no one was injured in the incident.

Ebrahim Heydari, the Director General of Mazandaran Endowments, also said that in the early hours of Tuesday morning, "three Imamzades in the Shirgah and North Savadkooh areas and the Ghaemshahr Military Road" were attacked, and the building of one of them was completely burned down because it had a wooden roof.

He announced the arrest of three people in this connection.

Arrest in connection with the Drood protests

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence also announced on Tuesday that it had arrested a person in connection with the Drood incidents in Lorestan province.

According to IRNA, the Ministry of Intelligence says that this individual, in collusion with other defendants, attempted to destroy public property and, by stealing a fire truck, caused the killing and injury of citizens.

The statement did not reveal the identity of the individual, but the Ministry of Intelligence said that the individual was arrested in the Tehran region after fleeing.

A member of parliament had previously said that two people were killed and six injured in Saturday's clashes in Drood.

The Iranian protests, which began last Thursday in Mashhad, Neyshabur, and Kashmar and quickly spread to other cities, are the most widespread unrest in Iran in the past eight years.

Official statistics indicate that 21 people were killed in the cities of Tuyserkan, Durud, Izeh, Shahinshahr, and Qahdarijan.

Iranian security officials have also reported the arrest of more than a thousand people in these protests.

Source: Radio Farda