Reports circulating on social media claimed that six Indian nationals were arrested by Iranian police during the ongoing anti-government protests that have paralysed Tehran and several other cities. The claims quickly gained attention as violence escalated across the country and death tolls continued to rise.
Iran strongly rejected the reports. Talking to X, Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, dismissed the claims as false and urged people to rely on verified information.
“The news circulated on some foreign X accounts about Iran’s developments is totally false. I request all interested people to get their news from the reliable sources.”
Iranian authorities have not confirmed the arrest of any Indian citizens. Officials say misinformation has spread rapidly due to the communication blackout imposed during the unrest.
The news circulated on some foreign X accounts about Iran’s developments, is totally false. I request all interested people to get their news from the reliable sources. pic.twitter.com/mZpxZVYBXR
— Iran Ambassador Mohammad Fathali (@IranAmbIndia) January 11, 2026
Iran Protest: Why Protests Exploded Across
The protests began on December 28, triggered by rising inflation and the collapse of the Iranian rial, which has severely impacted daily life. What started as economic demonstrations soon transformed into direct challenges to Iran’s Islamic leadership, including Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
Large crowds poured onto the streets of Tehran, Mashhad, Kerman, and other cities, demanding economic relief and political change. Protesters accused the government of corruption, mismanagement, and suppressing dissent.
Iran Protest: Crackdown Leaves Hundreds Dead, Thousands Detained
Human rights activists estimate that at least 544 people have been killed during the government crackdown, with fears that the number may be higher. More than 10,600 people have been detained over the past two weeks.
Activists say most of the dead were protesters, while several members of the security forces also died in clashes. Iranian authorities have not released official nationwide casualty figures but have acknowledged deaths among security personnel in multiple provinces.
CORRECTION: Despite Iran International claiming that this footage was from demonstrations tonight in Tehran, it appears this was actually from last night’s protest in the Iranian capital, with the original video being strangely cropped to remove the writing which dates it as… pic.twitter.com/byMuvjiTHb
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 11, 2026
State television aired funerals of security force members and showed images from morgues, while officials accused protesters of violent acts.
Internet Blackout Deepens Information Gap
Iran has imposed widespread internet and phone shutdowns, making it difficult to independently verify events on the ground. Despite the restrictions, videos reportedly sent via satellite connections show crowds gathering at night, waving mobile phone lights and confronting security forces.
Footage from northern Tehran’s Punak neighbourhood shows streets blocked by authorities as demonstrators banged metal objects and fireworks lit the sky. Similar scenes emerged from Mashhad and other cities.
Critics warn that the blackout may embolden hardline elements to intensify the crackdown without international scrutiny.
Political Rhetoric Hardens Inside Iran
Senior Iranian officials have adopted a tougher tone as protests persist. Ali Larijani, a top security figure, accused some demonstrators of violent behaviour and compared their actions to extremist groups.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, seen as a reformist voice, acknowledged public anger but warned against chaos. “People have concerns; we should sit with them, and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns,” Pezeshkian said.
“But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society.” Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former Shah, urged security forces to stand with protesters.
