Iran has detained at least 139 foreign nationals in the central province of Yazd for allegedly participating in anti‑government protests, according to a report published Tuesday by the Tasnim News Agency. Authorities have not yet disclosed which countries the detainees are from.
Yazd, a sparsely populated desert region, became one of many areas swept up in nationwide unrest that erupted in January. The protests began in December over a deepening economic crisis but quickly escalated into widespread political violence the most intense Iran has seen since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Rising Death Toll and Mass Arrests
The Iranian government says 3,117 people have been killed in the recent wave of violence. However, international human‑rights groups argue the real number is significantly higher.
The US‑based rights organisation HRANA reports that nearly 50,000 people have been arrested since the protests began. The growing crackdown including the detention of foreign nationals has raised concerns about escalating tensions and the potential for further instability.
A Crisis Growing More Complex
Human‑rights advocates warn that Iran’s sweeping arrests, combined with mounting political pressure and economic hardship, are deepening the crisis rather than containing it.
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