Iran in February 2026: the most important developments in society
In February 2026, Iranian society was marked by the aftermath of the January protests and their crackdown, alongside official celebrations. On 11 February Iran held nationwide rallies for the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, with state-organized events in Tehran featuring fireworks and anti-Israeli chants. The government cited mass participation as proof of the country's strength, while observers noted the events took place amid domestic discontent. State television fired its director after a reporter said 'death to Khamenei' on air, and it broadcast a 'hit list' of seven Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The toll of the crackdown remained a central subject. Activists and a rights group put the verified death toll from the January protests at more than 7,000, and a list of 200 killed students was published. Leaked documents and a doctor alleged that the authorities planned a massacre and killed protesters in hospitals. Iran's ambassador described the protests as an attempted quasi-coup, and the government held a memorial for victims of what it called foreign-backed riots. The Nobel Committee called for the release of imprisoned Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, whose supporters said she was fighting for her life after an assault in prison.
Protests continued inside and outside the country. On 15 February hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against the Iranian government in many countries, with a large rally near the Munich Security Conference, and the EU's foreign policy chief warned that Iran's authorities may have committed crimes against humanity. Iranian students held the first large anti-government protests since the crackdown and protested again on 21 and 22 February, with reports of clashes with security forces.
On 28 February, after US and Israeli strikes, Trump and Netanyahu said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead, and Netanyahu cited a found body. Iran's Foreign Minister said he was alive. Some residents of Tehran were reported cheering, while pro-government demonstrators rallied against the strikes.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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