Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei (right), head of Iran's judiciary, in Tehran, January 1, 2026. SOBHAN FARAJVAN/PACIFIC P/SIPA
Reformists have become the latest targets of the Iranian regime. On Monday, February 9, former MP Ali Shakouri-Rad and Reformist Front spokesperson Javad Emam were arrested by the intelligence service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the regime's ideological army. The day before, two other members of the same front, Secretary General Azar Mansouri and Political Committee Chair Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, were also detained. Meanwhile, the homes of Vice President Mohsen Armin and Secretary Badrolsadat Mofidi were searched. The Reformist Front is an umbrella organization for reformist parties and groups.
The arrests followed the publication of a statement by the Front condemning the repression of the December 2025 and January protests. Published on February 1, the statement called for the creation of a "salvation assembly" to "save Iran."
"Based on the available assessments, it is now clear that a large portion of Iranian citizens has lost trust in all institutions and authorities that were supposed to represent and defend their demands; and the Reformist Front as well as the reformist movement are no exception to this deep mistrust," the statement read.
