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Protests in Iran, day 23: – Islam has collapsed

By: Arnt Jensvoll   20. January 2026, 07:00

19 January was relatively calm compared to the protests and repression on 8-9 January. Based on reports, the regime essentially continued to deal with the aftermath of the unrest. Eyewitnesses and opposition media continue to report arrests and military security measures in cities such as Tehran, Zahedan and Karaj – and it is claimed that 70 per cent of Iranians have left Islam.

Former cabinet member Ali Larijani, who serves as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, appears to be the mastermind behind the suppression of the January 2026 uprising. His role model is said to be Deng Xiaoping, specifically the suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, where anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 protesters were killed.

– Kill the opposition brutally. Then open up just enough to retain power

– The strategy going forward is continued brutal repression while allowing the people limited cultural and economic freedom, engaging diplomatically with its neighbours, and exploiting the Gaza war to divide the US and Israel. The regime has realised that Gaza has changed Western opinion against Israel. They are spending millions on propaganda for the regime and recruiting Western influencers.

Larijani’s plan will succeed or fail depending on the opposition’s reaction and US/Israeli policy. At the moment, he is the only one with a long-term plan supported by Khamenei for the survival of the regime.

Iran issues ultimatum to youth who participated in protests

American musclemen to the Persian Gulf

USS “Abraham Lincoln” left the South China Sea around 15-16 January and is likely in the Indian Ocean. The distance to the Persian Gulf is estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000 nautical miles, depending on the route. The ship is expected to arrive between 22 and 26 January.

USS “George H.W. Bush” left Norfolk on 13 January bound for the Mediterranean and is expected to arrive between 20 and 22 January.) An Ohio-class submarine is also in the region.

– The USS “George Washington” left the US East Coast last week. The tracking system has been switched off. Unlike the USS Lincoln, the George’s position is unknown. That means Iran could be attacked by two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at the same time.

Gatestone Institute writes that the fastest, best and only way to eradicate Hamas and destroy “all military, terrorist and attack infrastructure, including tunnels and weapons production facilities” not only in the Gaza Strip, as outlined in Trump’s 20-point plan, but also in the Middle East, is for a new regime to emerge in Iran. Without Iran’s support, their proxies – the Houthis, Hezbollah, Venezuela – will disappear.

Gatestone’s view is widely supported by right-wing analysts in the US and Israel. Other analysts are sceptical about a direct attack, citing the risk of escalation and lack of public support in the US.

In Tehran, the men in power mock Donald Trump

– Prosecutor Ali Salehi mocks Trump for saying the execution of 800 protesters was cancelled. He promises a speedy trial and harsh punishments.

At the same time that Trump is being mocked, Israel Channel 14’s @DBalazada reports that Iran’s former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has had several conversations with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during the protests and that they have briefed former President Rouhani. Both Zarif and Rouhani have been arrested by the IRGC.

More defections

In yesterday’s Iran Report, we wrote about an Iranian diplomat at the UN headquarters in Geneva who has gone into hiding and sought political asylum in Switzerland with his family. Today, we can report that a former member of Iran’s special unit for riot police has reportedly defected.

– Javad Sadeghi urges armed forces to side with protesters and support Prince Reza Pahlavi.

Relatively credible sources claim that Javad Sadeghi was killed by protesters on 8 January.

Reports from Iran International and European sources claim that several Iranian diplomats have contacted European authorities in recent weeks to explore the possibility of asylum. Beyond the Geneva case, so far no one has been named, the approaches are described as “discreet”.

Historically, diplomats have defected during previous protests, so defectors are plausible.

On X and in exile media, videos and claims abound that IRGC soldiers, Basij members or lower-ranking officers have refused service, defected or joined the opposition. Among other things, it is reported that “thousands” have left their posts in the forces of repression.

Claims of IRGC personnel declaring support for the revolution are often unspecified. Western analyses so far see no signs of massive or high-level desertions from the IRGC – the regime appears to remain in control of the core apparatus.

– Islam has collapsed in Iran

It’s not just diplomats leaving the regime. The people are leaving Islam. A large number of reports in recent years tell of a massive popular farewell to Islam.

– 70 per cent of Iranians (about 65 million people) have left Islam. Two-thirds of mosques (50,000 out of 75,000) across the country are closed due to low attendance. When the Iranians overthrow the mullahs, it will be the final nail in the coffin of Islam in Iran.

Iran has the world’s fastest growing church, but no church buildings

Government TV hacked

We also reported that state-run Iranian TV had been hacked and was broadcasting calls for security forces not to turn their guns on the Iranian people. Anonymous is now claiming responsibility for the hack.

– Message to the brutal regime in Iran: We hijacked IRIB’s satellite broadcast, and in front of the eyes of the world, we took away your propaganda mask. For a moment, your “state TV” stopped spreading lies – and showed the truth you fear most: The people are rising up. You can arrest people, but you cannot arrest an idea. You can block signals, but you can’t silence a nation.

This was a warning. Your control is fragile. Your systems are exposed. Your time is running out.

To the people of Iran: You are not alone. Count on us.

New video footage from Ahwaz shows Iranian protesters openly burning images of Khamenei and Khomeini. The people are attacking the symbols of the regime. It’s a big line to cross in Iran, especially outside Tehran.

 

It is claimed that Doctors Without Borders has not written a single post about the 20,000 civilians killed in Iran.

– Literally not a single post.

In Vancouver, people turn out in force to demonstrate against the Islamic Republic.

– The video shows a shop in Dubai using Iran’s real national flag on Iranian products. The world rejects the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian regime is not alone in the world

– In Istanbul, dozens of people took to the streets in support of the Islamic Republic – even after weeks of brutal repression and civilian deaths. They waved flags, held up portraits of Iranian leaders and chanted slogans against Western influence.

The opposition’s language is hardening, this time it’s the regime that faces “no mercy.”

– The numbers they have given you are lies. They say that 12,000 people were killed. This is wrong. They have killed more than 30,000 people.

There will be no more talks. We will not ask you to join the people. I swear on every inch of Iranian soil: What we will do to you will be recorded in Iran’s history. We will show it to you soon. We will show you no mercy. We will show you a death you have never imagined.

Long live Iran! Long live the king!

Despite the curfew, the Iranians manage to fight back.

– Tehran two nights ago. A huge store owned by the regime burns to the ground. Someone in the video says “don’t film people”

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WEF sees the writing on the wall

– Iran’s foreign minister was invited to Davos, where he was supposed to shake hands and act like a “respectable” statesman. The invitation was recently withdrawn. The WEF found it difficult to give the Islamic regime a global stage while security forces are busy killing civilians at home. After weeks of repression and thousands of deaths, the mood is not the best.

Tehran is furious, the protesters relieved – and Davos reminded that they sometimes take notice of what goes on outside the conference hall.

In our Day 20 update, we wrote that the imams are paying mercenaries to shoot Iranians, because Iranians refuse to shoot Iranians. Liza Rosen repeats the message – and so do we:</p

– He imported Arab terrorists to kill defenceless Iranian civilians; he knew his Iranian forces would not kill sufficient numbers to satisfy his bloodthirsty Allah. This is the Islamic Republic, it is a death cult!

Masih Alinejad:

– The video shows Masoumeh Ebtekar, spokeswoman for the hostage-takers at the US embassy in 1979, once saying she was ready to “shoot American hostages in the head” while answering questions about why she still shouts “Death to America” while her son lives in the US.

She laughs as she speaks, even though thousands of innocent Iranians have been killed under the regime she has served and defended.

I urged the international media to investigate this in the same way they have investigated the relatives of Vladimir Putin living a life of luxury in the West.

– Iran’s military media has just crossed a new frontier. An account affiliated with the Islamic Republic is making veiled threats to anti-regime protesters in the diaspora: “Be aware of your surroundings. We may be right behind you.”</p

The attached photo shows one of the regime’s mercenaries among Iranian anti-regime protesters in France. This is intimidation, surveillance and transnational terror exported from Tehran to European streets.

– An Iranian woman attending a demonstration in London recognised her brother’s picture on a billboard and learned that he had been killed in Iran.

A nation held hostage

– Three-year-old Melina Asadi was not part of the demonstrations. She was with her father to buy cough syrup. For this, the Islamic Republic shot her full of buckshot from behind. Her father didn’t bring the medicine home; he brought his daughter’s blood.

They took her little body hostage and forced the family to blame “protesters” in order to bury the child. This is not a government. It’s a terrorist organisation holding a nation hostage.

– Iranian chess player Dorsa Derakhshani received an ultimatum from the regime: Wear a hijab or be banned from competitions. She refused and joined the American team. She went on to become a world champion and recently started medical school.

– His name was Majidreza. He was executed for protesting the death of Mahsa Amini. He had a Persian lion tattooed on his arm, a symbol of his pride in being Iranian. He asked them not to read from the Koran at his grave. Reject Islam!

Again, we are reminded of the uncertainty surrounding the verification of news coming out of Iran. What is true today may be lies and untruths tomorrow. And vice versa.

The protests in Iran, day 22: The Islamic regime is crumbling from the inside

Les også

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