Pezeshkian Administration Launches Probe into January Unrest to Address Root Causes

Vice President Pazouki, who oversees communications for President Masoud Pezeshkian, announced on X that the first meeting took place on Sunday under the leadership of First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. The session included several cabinet members and officials from outside the government.

“Following the President’s directive, a meeting of the headquarters responsible for reviewing the January incidents was convened under Dr. Mohammad Reza Aref, with participation from cabinet members and external officials,” Pazouki said. He added that additional sessions are planned to further investigate the events of January 8 and 9 and identify their root causes.

The meetings are focused on conducting a comprehensive analysis to address social divisions, understand the grievances that fueled the unrest, and prevent a recurrence. As part of this process, the first vice president is engaging directly with academics, opinion leaders, civil society representatives, and other key figures to ensure that diverse viewpoints and proposed solutions are incorporated.

The unrest began on January 8 following attacks by foreign-backed groups, which resulted in casualties among civilians and security forces, as well as widespread property damage. These violent incidents occurred against the backdrop of protests that had started on December 28 over rising living costs, at a time when the government was holding dialogue with protest representatives.

By convening these meetings, the Pezeshkian administration is signaling its intent to systematically assess both immediate and structural factors behind the unrest, seeking solutions that go beyond reactive security measures to address broader societal challenges.