Tehran’s top prosecutor calls for confiscation of property linked to protesters

Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad stated on January 14 that law enforcement bodies should identify the assets of protesters and forward this information to the prosecutor’s office, as per foreign media reports.

He further noted that individuals and companies that have incurred financial losses during the unrest should submit documentation and evidence for review, enabling authorities to take what he described as deterrent measures against protesters and those who support them.

His statements come amid a rapidly expanding wave of unrest across Iran. The protests began in late December 2025 following a steep collapse of the national currency and a surge in retail prices.

What initially started as demonstrations over economic grievances has grown into broader demands for the removal of the country’s clerical leadership. In several cities, confrontations between protesters and security forces have turned violent, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

New information emerging from Iran on January 13 suggests that the scale of the crackdown may be far more severe than previously believed. CBS News, citing multiple sources, including one inside the country, reported that activist groups collecting data from hospitals and medical personnel now estimate the death toll at a minimum of 12,000, with some assessments placing the number at 20,000 or higher. These figures have not been independently verified, and sources caution that strict communication controls imposed by Iranian authorities likely contribute to substantial underreporting.

Analysts consider the current protests to be the most serious internal challenge faced by the Iranian government in at least three years, unfolding at a time of heightened external pressure following Israeli and US strikes last year.

By Tamilla Hasanova