On January 8, 2026 (18 Dey 1404), the Islamic Republic began a violent nationwide crackdown on protests across Iran. According to reports, the operation was carried out under the authority of Ali Khamenei, with security and military forces including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Basij militia, and Law Enforcement Forces deployed to suppress the demonstrations. In multiple cities across the country, armed forces used live ammunition, machine guns, and rooftop snipers against protesters. Witness accounts reported that security forces in many locations opened fire directly on crowds. At the same time, internet access across much of Iran was shut down or severely restricted, limiting the flow of information and images from inside the country. During the crackdown, which escalated on 18 and 19 Dey 1404, reports indicated that approximately 36,500 people were killed, making it one of the deadliest events in Iran’s modern history. These events later became widely known among many Iranians as the “Dey 1404 Massacre.” According to Islamic Republic sources, this observance is registered and presented in the official calendar in this form and with these descriptions.
