Iran’s Shiraz In Revolt: Reports Reveal Regime’s Paralysis As Youth Turn City Into Fortress Of Resistance – OpEd

Despite the Iranian regime’s frantic efforts to conceal the scale of the nationwide uprising through severe internet blackouts and censorship, reports continue to leak out, revealing a volatile society determined to overthrow the religious dictatorship. New field reports obtained from Shiraz, the capital of Fars province, detail nearly three weeks of intense total urban battle between December 28, 2025, and January 13, 2026. These reports indicate that the regime’s suppression machine has been stretched to its breaking point, forcing authorities to call for reinforcements from neighboring cities to quell the rebellious youth.

The current wave of protests, which erupted nationwide on December 28, 2025, initially began as an economic outcry by bazaari shopkeepers outraged by the rial’s sharp plunge and skyrocketing prices. However, as seen in Shiraz, the unrest quickly expanded geographically and shifted socially to include universities and wider strike activity. What started as livelihood grievances rapidly transitioned into explicit anti-regime slogans targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the uprising’s focus shifting to calls for total regime.

The spark: From bazaar strikes to street battles

The uprising in Shiraz commenced on Sunday, December 28, with a coordinated strike by merchants. The Sardozak and Vakil bazaars, particularly around Falakeh Setad and Moallem Square, shuttered their shops in a display of civil disobedience. Simultaneously, the brave people and rebellious youth of Maaliabad took to the streets. The regime, terrified of the spreading unrest, reacted the following day, Monday, December 29, by closing universities, deploying special suppression units to sensitive areas, and blocking the entrance to the Shahcheragh shrine.

Despite these measures, the protests only intensified. On Tuesday, December 30, citizens gathered at Eram University, Maaliabad, and Vakilabad market. By Wednesday, December 31, the unrest had spread to Mollasadra and Sattarkhan. When security forces attempted to crack down on crowds in the Vakilabad market area, rebellious youth retaliated near “Sang-e Siah” by setting a police suppression vehicle on fire. By nightfall, the chants against the mullahs’ rule grew louder in Shahcheragh and Sardozak. Realizing their inability to control the defiant population, the State Security Forces (SSF) were forced to request backup troops from surrounding towns—a clear sign of the regime’s exhaustion and lack of manpower.

A regime under siege: Desperation and exhausted forces

As the new year began, the tactical sophistication of the youth left the regime’s forces paralyzed. On January 2 and 3, demonstrations erupted in Sadra, Amir Kabir Boulevard, and Daryush Street. In a remarkable display of resistance in the Koshan district, rebellious youth used  hit-and-run tactics and even deployed a front loader to build earth berms and barricades, effectively blocking the road and denying access to suppression units.

The clashes continued relentlessly. On Sunday, January 4, security forces in Maaliabad resorted to savage beatings and arrests. However, the youth stood their ground. On Monday, January 5, students from Shiraz University joined the protests. Intense fighting broke out in the Seraj neighborhood and Lotfali Khan Zand Street. In Maaliabad, near Khalbanan Street, the confrontation escalated until rebellious youth set another SSF van ablaze, turning the instruments of suppression into ashes.

Live ammo vs. the fire of fury: The bloody days of January

The violence reached a fever pitch in the second week of January. On Wednesday, January 7, while the Vakilabad market remained on strike, protests spread to Paramount, Mollasadra, and Nasr Street. In Paramount, the youth set fire to the motorcycles of the attacking suppression forces.

By Thursday, January 8, the regime’s brutality escalated to the use of lethal force. In Bani Hashem Street, heavy clashes erupted around noon. Security forces fired live ammunition at unarmed protesters and flooded the streets with tear gas. Undeterred, the people defended themselves using handmade firecrackers and firebombs. In the Ahmadi neighborhood, youth blocked the roads with burning tires, preventing the entry of regime mercenaries while chanting, “Khamenei is a murderer, his rule is void.”

The pinnacle of this resistance occurred on Saturday, January 10. Enraged by the crackdown, rebellious youth attacked the “Rabbani” Basij base—a center for organizing repression—and set it on fire. In Maaliabad and Koshke, youth erected barricades and set fire to the regime-affiliated Agricultural Bank (Bank Keshavarzi). Despite the heavy security atmosphere and indiscriminate shooting by mercenaries to prevent gatherings, the people’s fury could not be contained.

The irreversible path to overthrow

Even as the regime launched night raids on homes and arrested numerous citizens on January 12, the city of Shiraz remained in a state of rebellion. By Tuesday, January 13, hit-and-run clashes continued across various districts. The persistent chants of “Death to the Dictator” and “This year is the year of blood” echoing through neighborhoods like Karim Khan indicate that the wall of fear has thoroughly collapsed. The events in Shiraz serve as a testament that the Iranian people have moved beyond demands for reform and are fighting a total urban battle for the overthrow of the religious dictatorship.