Iran deploys heavy security around Sunni Makki Mosque Video

Iranian authorities stepped up security around Makki Mosque in the southeastern city of Zahedan on January 16.

Videos obtained by Iran International showed a heavy security presence around Makki Mosque, the city’s main Sunni place of worship, Caliber.Az reports.

Videos received by Iran International showed a heavy security presence around Makki Mosque in the southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan on Friday.pic.twitter.com/Hs720YZuhs

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) January 16, 2026

The mosque has in recent years become a focal point for protests and public gatherings, particularly amid periods of heightened political tension.

Large-scale protests across Iran have been ongoing for three weeks now, widely described as the most significant unrest in a decade. Media outlets have reported more than 2,000 fatalities, a figure that Iran’s vice president, Ahmad Musavi, has also acknowledged. The US-based human rights organisation HRANA has said that, based on its data, the death toll has already exceeded 2,500.

US media, citing multiple sources including one inside Iran, have provided even higher estimates. Activist groups gathering information from hospitals and medical personnel now believe the number of deaths is at least 12,000, with some assessments suggesting 20,000 or more. These figures have not been independently verified, and the sources emphasised that severe communication restrictions imposed by Iranian authorities likely lead to significant underreporting.

By Sabina Mammadli