Iran Arrests Key Reform Figures Amid Widespread Crackdown
In its latest crackdown, Iranian authorities have detained three prominent reformist leaders, including AzarMansouri, president of the Reformist Front, as reported by Fars news agency on Sunday.
The arrested individuals also include Ibrahim Asgharzadeh and Mohsen Aminzadeh.
The agency reported that the charges against them range from undermining national unity and opposing the constitution to aligning with enemy propaganda, promoting surrender, and creating covert sabotage mechanisms.
These arrests come amid a broader crackdown in Iran over recent months against opposition voices, which has intensified following a wave of protests that began in late December 2025, triggered by currency collapse and worsening living conditions.
Merchants, students, and various societal groups have protested in multiple cities, demanding significant political and social change.
According to reports from human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, security forces have employed excessive violence to disperse demonstrators, resulting in fatalities, injuries, and arbitrary arrests of hundreds, including students, academics, artists, and human rights defenders.
These organizations have also documented nighttime home raids and arrests at workplaces, including hospitals, without official information on detention sites or charges.
The recent detentions of Azar Mansouri and her colleagues reflect the authorities' efforts to suppress political opposition and respond to rising internal criticism and international pressure, amid calls from human rights advocates for the release of detainees and the assurance of fair trials.
