Photo: Aghasht/Middle East Images/IMAGO
The memory of those killed during anti-government protests in Iran on Tuesday, February 17, was once again on the agenda. Memorial services were held in several cities, and in some places there were reports of fresh clashes with security forces.
One of the most discussed scenes was in Abadan: footage posted on social media showed people holding flowers and photos of the dead and chanting anti-government slogans. Some videos showed the crowd panicking and scattering in all directions amid the sound of gunfire.
In Mashhad, the memorial service was also reported to have included slogans such as "One person killed - thousands are behind him." In general, the memorial services this time around seemed to reflect the deep pain and pent-up anger in society rather than "sitting quietly and remembering."
At the same time, the authorities also held an official ceremony in Tehran. It was reported that it was held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mausoleum, with participants carrying flags and portraits of the victims, and chanting slogans consistent with the state's position. The ceremony was also attended by high-ranking officials, including Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.
The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Qaani, made a strong statement at the event, saying that "those who support the unrest are criminals and will face the consequences," according to Tasnim.
The roots of these events go back to the protests that began in December 2025: the protests, which were initially motivated by economic reasons, quickly took on a political dimension and spread throughout the country, according to international media reports. In this process, there were also many reports of communication restrictions and internet outages, as well as the use of force.
The figures for the number of victims vary dramatically. The government has reported 3,117 deaths (including civilians and security personnel). Independent reports, however, put the figure much higher: the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported at least 7,005 deaths. It is therefore often emphasized that it is difficult to independently verify the full extent of the events.
In short, the February 17 commemorations were a reminder that the wounds in society have not yet healed. One side says "control," the other says "justice" — and between those two words hangs the fate of thousands of people. Now the big question: Will the coming days bring "calm" or will a new wave rise again?
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