At least 83 medical professionals across 33 Iranian cities were arrested in connection with the January protests. According to information obtained by IranWire, only 47 of them, nearly half, have been released so far.
Those detained include general practitioners, specialists, nurses, hospital technicians, and medical students. In January 2026, Iran witnessed one of the largest waves of protests against the Islamic Republic in recent years, which was met with heavy state suppression. Healthcare workers who either joined the protests or simply tried to carry out their medical responsibilities were also targeted during the crackdown.
Even after more than four months, no complete public report on detained medical staff has been released. IranWire, working alongside healthcare activists, compiled the data independently.
The arrests stretched across the country, from Mashhad to Gachsaran, and from Lar in Fars province to Tabriz and Ardabil.
Tehran recorded the highest number of arrests with 16 cases, followed by Tabriz with 8 and Kerman with 6. Isfahan, Shiraz, and Dehloran each reported 5 arrests.
