WANA (Feb 15) – Iran will observe the fortieth-day memorial for those killed during the January unrest on February 17–18, 2026, at mosques, shrines, and Hussainiyas nationwide, the Islamic Coordination Council announced.

 

The council described the events of January 8–9, 2026, as a coordinated attempt to destabilize the country, orchestrated by foreign intelligence agencies, including the United States and Israel.

 

According to official statements, armed elements trained in extremist ideologies were inserted into initially peaceful economic protests, aiming to incite violence, target civilians and security personnel, and provoke widespread chaos.

 

The protests began in late December 2025, triggered by sharp fluctuations in the Iranian rial. Merchants, particularly in Tehran’s bazaars and the electronics sector, staged peaceful protests to voice economic grievances—a right guaranteed under Iran’s constitution. Authorities engaged in dialogue with protest representatives, and similar demonstrations occurred in other provinces.

 

However, by January 8–10, the situation escalated. Armed groups reportedly distributed weapons and opened fire on police and civilians alike, with instructions to maximize casualties.

 

Iranian authorities simultaneously implemented a nationwide internet and phone service shutdown beginning on January 8 because of security concerns.

 

These actions coincided with statements by Israeli and American officials hinting at possible military intervention with the claim of saving Iranians, a move that further inflamed tensions.

 

Official reports indicate that 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel, many now recognized as martyrs.

 

The upcoming fortieth-day memorial is intended both to honor the victims and to mark the resilience and solidarity of the Iranian people in the face of foreign-instigated unrest.

A mosque that was burned during Iran’s protests, in Tehran, Iran, January 21, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)