Iran crackdown widens as reformists are arrested amid protests
Iran crackdown widens as reformists are arrested amid protests
Detentions of senior reformists widen Iran's crackdown on protests, with Azar Mansouri and other reformists reported detained amid rising tensions.
Tehran has tightened the net on dissent, with several senior reformists reportedly detained in a widening crackdown after nationwide protests earlier this year. Azar Mansouri, the head of Iran’s main reformist coalition, is said to be among the detainees, joined by figures such as Hossein Karroubi and Javad Emam. The men are part of a wave that rights groups say marks the broadest squeeze on opposition voices in years, as security forces move quickly to neutralize dissent in the capital and beyond.
Prosecutors’ offices in Tehran accuse those arrested of targeting national unity and acting in league with the United States and Israel. Mansouri, who had urged transparency about the deadly crackdown, is among those whose detention signals a hardening stance from authorities. Rights groups estimate more than 6,000 protesters were killed in the crackdown, with the final toll likely higher, though official figures remain disputed. The arrests come after months of mass demonstrations that began in January and drew global attention.
Analysts say the move is a blow to President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose support came largely from reformist allies. He has called for an inquiry into the protests, but the new detentions suggest the leadership is choosing repression over dialogue. The crackdown, critics say, aims to restore a narrative of unity while stifling voices that push for reform. The fallout is likely to intensify tensions between hardline elements and reformists in the months ahead.
