Iranian authorities announced the arrest of 139 foreign nationals in Yazd province for their alleged involvement in recent anti-government protests, marking a significant escalation in the government's crackdown on unrest. Yazd police chief Ahmad Negahban stated that the detainees actively organized, incited, and directed riotous actions, with some maintaining contact with external networks, though nationalities remain undisclosed.
The province, a desert region with over 1 million residents, was among many hit by nationwide demonstrations that began in late December 2025 over economic woes like soaring inflation and currency collapse, evolving into broader political challenges. Tehran attributes the violence to foreign interference, particularly from the US and Israel, amid a suppression that official tallies list at 3,117 deaths—far higher per human rights groups like HRANA, which report nearly 50,000 arrests.
Judicial probes continue, with warnings of severe penalties for those tied to the "American sedition." Critics question the claims' validity, citing lack of evidence and broader protest suppression since the 1979 Revolution.
