Iran protests: State TV boss admits to widespread attacks on broadcast centers, student strikes expand

2026-01-31 - 23:16

As the nationwide uprising against the clerical dictatorship continues, the regime’s propaganda machine has taken a significant hit. The head of the state-run broadcasting corporation has openly admitted to widespread attacks by rebellious youth on transmission centers across the country. Meanwhile, the spirit of resistance thrives in universities, where medical students have launched a nationwide boycott of exams to protest the regime’s crackdown. While the regime tries to stifle the voice of the people through censorship and internet blackouts, reports of daring operations by rebellious youth targeting the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and symbols of plunder continue to emerge, signaling that the uprising aimed at overthrowing Ali Khamenei is intensifying. Roundup: State TV centers targeted, medical students boycott exams, and economic infighting deepens On Saturday, January 31, the uprising saw significant developments regarding the regime’s loss of control over its propaganda and the expanding solidarity among students. Key highlights include: Attacks on State Media: Peyman Jebelli, the head of the regime’s state television (IRIB), admitted that rebellious youth attacked broadcasting centers in several cities, including Kish and Mashhad, destroying live broadcast equipment and mobile units. Student Exam Boycotts: Medical students in Tehran, Tabriz, Ahvaz, and Zahedan refused to sit for exams, citing the security crackdown and the arrest of their peers. Rebellious Youth Operations: Despite internet delays, reports confirm that youth in Saveh burned nine IRGC vehicles and a water cannon. Similar actions targeting banks and police vehicles occurred in Talesh, Zanjan, and Fuladshahr. Regime Infighting: MPs are attacking the government of Masoud Pezeshkian over “shocking” economic decisions, warning that the explosive cost of living is pushing society toward further unrest. EU Terror Designation: Ali Larijani, a top security official, lashed out at the European Union for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization. State TV boss admits to “serious attacks” on propaganda infrastructure In a rare admission of vulnerability, Peyman Jebelli, the head of the regime’s broadcasting organization (IRIB), expressed panic over the damage inflicted on the regime’s propaganda apparatus during the recent wave of the uprising. Jebelli acknowledged that rebellious youth have targeted IRIB centers in multiple provinces. “The most serious attacks occurred in Kish and Mashhad,” he stated. “In Kish, Mashhad, Qazvin, Isfahan, Gorgan, and Alborz, attempts were made to damage IRIB centers.” He confirmed substantial material losses, specifically noting the destruction of mobile broadcasting units essential for censorship and propaganda dissemination. “In some cases, our live broadcast and SNG equipment were set on fire,” Jebelli said. “Our mobile unit in Gorgan, which covered the ‘Iran Jan Golestan’ program just last week, was completely destroyed.” Medical students across Iran boycott exams in solidarity with detainees Reports from Saturday, January 31, indicate a growing movement among medical students to boycott end-of-term exams in protest against the severe security atmosphere and the detention of their classmates. Tehran: Students at the Nursing and Midwifery School of Beheshti University of Medical Sciences staged a sit-in outside exam halls, refusing to participate in the tests. Tabriz: Students at the Faculty of Pharmacy boycotted their exams on Saturday. In a statement, they demanded the release of Mahdi Kouhsari, a fourth-year medical student, and other detainees. They declared that taking exams while the country is in turmoil is “neither possible nor ethical.” Ahvaz and Zahedan: Students at Jundishapur University in Ahvaz and the University of Medical Sciences in Zahedan also joined the strike, refusing to attend in-person exams due to the lack of psychological safety and the suppression of protests. Iran University of Medical Sciences: Students boycotted exams to show support for arrested doctors and students. Rebellious youth target IRGC vehicles and banks: Updates from previous days Due to severe internet restrictions imposed by the regime, reports of daring operations by rebellious youth are reaching the outside world with some delay. New reports confirm significant blows to the regime’s suppression machinery between January 8 and January 10. • Saveh (January 8): In a major offensive, rebellious youth set fire to nine vehicles belonging to the terrorist IRGC at Telecommunication Square. Earlier that day, they destroyed a special unit water cannon used to suppress protesters. Reports also indicate heroic clashes where youth forced regime forces to flee. Talesh (January 8): Youth blocked the advance of enemy forces on Saadi Street by setting fires, engaging in hit-and-run tactics with the regime’s brute forces. Zanjan (January 8): A police vehicle was set ablaze and completely destroyed in a direct confrontation with suppression forces. Fuladshahr (January 9 & 10): Targeting symbols of the regime’s plunder, rebellious youth set fire to the regime’s Maskan Bank on January 9 and the Shahr Bank on January 10. Regime infighting intensifies over economic collapse As the uprising puts pressure on the regime’s security, internal fighting has erupted over the collapsing economy. Hamid Rasaei, a member of the regime’s parliament, launched a scathing attack on regime President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government, describing its economic policies as a “bomb” detonated against the people’s livelihood. Rasaei criticized four “shocking” decisions: the removal of preferential currency, the hike in the currency rate from 800,000 rials to 1,250,000 rials, the deregulation of wheat prices, and the increase in gasoline prices. He admitted that these measures have “ignited the fire of anger and despair across the country.” Jalal Rashidi Kouchi, a former MP, warned the ruling clique that ignoring the people’s demands is dangerous, stating, “The protester of yesterday becomes the rioter of today when their protest is not heard.” Regime threatens EU over IRGC terror designation Reacting to the European Union’s recent decision to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the regime’s Supreme National Security Council, issued hollow threats against European nations. He claimed that under the regime’s parliamentary laws, the armies of countries participating in the EU’s decision are considered terrorists, threatening that “consequences will be directed at the European countries.”