Lights out, then gunfire: Witnesses recount Mashhad protest crackdown

Key Points:

• Greek risk management firm MARISKS warned of scammers posing as Iranian authorities demanding cryptocurrency transit fees from vessels stuck west of the Strait of Hormuz, clarifying these messages are fraudulent and not from Iranian officials amid ongoing regional tensions.
• Iran has executed individuals linked to the January anti-government protests, including Amirali Mirjafari, accused of acts against the state and alleged Mossad ties; human rights groups highlight forced confessions and unfair trials in these cases.
• Graves of slain protestors from the 2022-2026 demonstrations have been defaced or covered with cement in multiple Iranian cemeteries, with families facing pressure and threats over memorial inscriptions, reflecting continued state efforts to suppress protest memory.
• Bread shortages and soaring prices are worsening in Iran due to subsidy cuts, inflation, and supply chain issues, despite official claims of wheat self-sufficiency; imports continue via intermediaries, raising concerns about food security and economic strain on citizens.
• The January 2026 protests in Iran saw unprecedented, rapid lethal repression with thousands killed in a concentrated crackdown using live ammunition and sniper fire, accompanied by internet blackouts and efforts to control information, marking a severe escalation in government response to dissent.