Iran reformists arrested as crackdown escalates nationwide unrest

Published: 09 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Iran has intensified its crackdown on reformists, with top leaders of the Reformists Front arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. These arrests, targeting figures close to President Masoud Pezeshkian, have raised alarm over the government’s handling of recent protests, highlighting the fragile political landscape. The reformist crackdown has drawn attention as the country grapples with widespread unrest, with security forces clamping down on those who publicly criticised the state’s response. Authorities justified the arrests by accusing reformists of supporting foreign agendas, further intensifying concerns about political suppression.

Azar Mansouri, secretary general of the Islamic Iran People Party, expressed profound sorrow over the deaths of protesters, stressing that no justification could mitigate such a tragedy. While she condemned the violence, Mansouri did not publicly call for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Her arrest marks a severe escalation, reflecting a broader pattern of silencing dissenting voices within the reformist movement. Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, head of the Reformists Front political committee, and Mohsen Aminzadeh, a former deputy foreign minister under ex-president Mohammad Khatami, were also detained in the same operation.

The crackdown by authorities appears strategic, designed to limit criticism of security forces following the protests that shook major cities across Iran. At least two additional prominent Iran reformists have been ordered to report to police stations, signalling the government’s intention to control political discourse. The official death toll from the protests stands at 3,000, though independent reports suggest the figure could be much higher. Prosecutors accused those arrested of attempting to justify violent opposition forces while conspiring with the US and Israel, framing the actions as threats to national unity. These measures have disproportionately affected the Iran reformists who advocate for moderation and reform within the political system.

Judiciary head Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei defended the actions, asserting that those criticising the state were aligning with foreign adversaries. He described the detained Iran reformists as “wretched and miserable” and warned they would face consequences for their actions. Mansouri, however, emphasised the necessity of seeking truth and justice for the victims of state violence. In her public statement last week, she condemned the reckless targeting of Iranian youth and underscored that no authority could erase the gravity of the catastrophe, reinforcing the plight of Iran reformists under government suppression.

These arrests coincide with the detention of four other Iranian human-rights defenders, who had supported a statement signed by 17 activists calling for a free and transparent referendum to establish a democratic government. Among those initially arrested were Vida Rabbani, Abdollah Momeni, and Mehdi Mahmoudian, with a fourth signatory, Dr Ghorban Behzadian-Nejad, later detained. The statement denounced the mass killings and attacks on civilians as state crimes against humanity, highlighting systemic abuses and denial of medical care, which the arrest of Iran reformists has intensified.

Separately, Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, already imprisoned for 59 days, was sentenced to a further seven years in jail. She briefly met her lawyer Mostafa Nili, revealing she had been transferred to a hospital but returned to prison without completing her treatment. These developments underscore the regime’s persistent suppression of political and human-rights advocates, illustrating the risks faced by those who challenge state policies.

President Pezeshkian, who secured 16.4 million votes in the June 2024 election on a turnout of 49.7%, has attempted to investigate the protests. However, his inquiry is unlikely to critique the Revolutionary Guards, demonstrating the limited influence he wields over key decision-makers. The arrests of his former supporters highlight his constrained authority and the dominance of hardline elements within the government.

International observers have expressed concern about Iran’s political trajectory, particularly as global powers monitor the country’s nuclear ambitions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advanced a visit to Washington to push for inclusion of Iran’s missile programme in ongoing talks. The discussions, mediated by Oman in Muscat, are expected to resume this week, with the US indicating a willingness to focus solely on nuclear limitations. This position has sparked anxiety among Israeli officials and some Republican figures.

The reformist arrests, coupled with ongoing political tensions, reveal the challenges facing Iran’s moderate leaders and the perils of advocating for reform within an increasingly restrictive system. The detention of prominent figures like Mansouri, Asgharzadeh, and Aminzadeh signals a renewed effort to stifle dissent and enforce state narratives, leaving many Iranians concerned about future political freedoms. As the international community monitors these developments, the situation remains volatile, reflecting deep-rooted structural issues within Iran’s governance and the fraught relationship between reformists and conservative forces.

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