Rasht Erupts: Night of Fire, Mass Protest, and Deadly Crackdown

January 10, 09:15

During the night of January 9 into early January 10, 2026, Rasht (Gilan Province) saw some of the most intense anti-regime unrest in the current nationwide protest wave. Large crowds, including youth, families, and older residents, demonstrated chanting monarchist and anti-regime slogans such as “Javid Shah,” “Marg bar Dictator,” and “Liberate Rasht.”

Protest activity escalated from marches to targeted arson and attacks on regime-linked infrastructure and symbols. Multiple bank branches (including Bank Melli, Sepah, Keshavarzi, Ayandeh, Iranzamin) were reportedly set on fire, along with municipality-building mosques and other sites perceived as tied to regime authority. Unconfirmed Reports also cited damage to Basij bases and regime-affiliated vehicles, with fires and clashes spreading across several areas into the early morning hours.

Security forces responded with heavy force, including reports of live ammunition (including automatic fire), tear gas, pellets, motorbike units firing directly at crowds, and mass arrests. Protesters simultaneously circulated operational security warnings, urging one another not to share personal details with strangers, citing suspected security/intelligence infiltration.

A key flashpoint is the reported killing of Masoud (Mehdi) Zatparvar (born 1986), a locally prominent gym owner and internationally recognized bodybuilding champion, allegedly shot dead by regime forces, an incident now serving as a mobilizing symbol inside the city.

Due to a broader internet blackout, reporting remains fragmented and relies on citizen accounts, leaked videos (including Starlink-circulated footage), and Persian-language posts from inside Iran. While protesters reportedly outnumbered security forces in some sectors, Rasht remains heavily securitized and volatile, with a meaningful risk of further escalation in the near term.

During the night of January 9 into early January 10, 2026, the city of Rasht in Gilan Province witnessed intense anti-regime protests as part of the ongoing nationwide protest in Iran. Large crowds of youth, families, and ordinary citizens took to the streets, displaying high levels of determination and morale. Protesters chanted slogans such as "Javid Shah" (Long Live the King), "Marg bar Dictator" (Death to the Dictator), and "Liberate Rasht" that evening.

Demonstrations included widespread participation from various age groups, with reports of children, elderly individuals, and even families in wheelchairs joining the marches. Protesters targeted symbols of the regime's economic and ideological control. Several banks, including branches of Bank Melli, Sepah, Keshavarzi, Ayandeh, and Iranzamin, were set on fire. Religious sites used by regime forces, such as municipality building mosques (including Masjed-e Hajj Mojtahed and Masjed-e Bistoon), were also attacked and burned.

Rasht Municipality Building on Fire

Additional reports mention fires at the municipality building in some districts, as well as damage to Basij bases and regime-affiliated vehicles during street clashes. The atmosphere in the city was described as chaotic, filled with smoke, the smell of gunpowder, and visible flames across multiple areas until the early morning hours. Security forces responded with heavy force to disperse the crowds. Eyewitness accounts detail the use of live gunfire, including automatic weapons, alongside tear gas, pellets, and mass arrests. Motorbike units patrolled in groups, firing directly at protesters to scatter them.

Protesters are circulating warnings on social media urging one another not to share personal details with strangers, citing a man in Rasht suspected of being linked to security or intelligence forces who allegedly tried to extract information about where demonstrators came from.

live warning: "suspected of being linked to security forces."

A particularly prominent casualty was Masoud (Mehdi) Zatparvar, a well-known international bodybuilding champion born in 1986, multiple-time world and Asian medalist, and owner of one of Rasht's most popular gyms. He was killed by direct gunfire from regime forces during the protests. This high-profile death has generated significant local outrage and is being widely shared as a rallying point among residents.

Due to the nationwide internet blackout, most information from Rasht relies on citizen-reported messages, leaked Starlink videos, and Persian-language posts from inside Iran. While protesters reportedly outnumbered security forces in some areas, leading to temporary withdrawals, the city remains heavily securitized with ongoing patrols. Casualty figures beyond the confirmed killing of Zatparvar remain unverified in detail for this specific night, though the events reflect a sharp escalation in defiance against the regime.

The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further actions in the coming hours.