Protester umbrella organizations appear to disagree on the timing of the upcoming planned protests. This division may be one of the factors depressing protester turnout.
The regime continues to adopt more overtly authoritarian language and policies.
At least one protest occurred in one city across one province.
Iranian media reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has dismissed Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari as law enforcement commander.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reiterated the mandatory hijab requirement during a meeting with female leaders.
Likely Iranian proxies launched two rockets at US forces stationed at the Conoco International Coalition base in eastern Syria.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-crisis-update-january-4-2023
Regime officials and entities are endorsing an expansive, collective-punishment model to implement mandatory veiling laws as anti-regime demonstrations enter their fourth consecutive month.
The Iranian regime is likely escalating against Prominent Sunni Cleric Moulana Abdol Hamid in an attempt to quell ongoing demonstrations throughout Sistan and Baluchistan Province.
At least three protests occurred in three cities across three provinces.
WhatsApp established a feature that allows Iranians to partially circumvent regime-imposed internet restrictions.
An Iranian court sentenced a detained protester to death on December 5 for purportedly leading anti-regime demonstration efforts in Mazandaran Province.
Anti-regime outlet Iran International claimed that the IRGC sanctioned the January 3 death of IRGC officer and Tehran Basij Commander Ghasem Fathollahi.
Iran International alleged that an IRGC Intelligence Organization-affiliated actor assassinated Fathollahi in his home after intelligence officials concluded that Fathollahi was communicating with protesters, citing an inside source.[17] Regime officials previously reported Fathollahi died in a burglary on his home that was unrelated to ongoing protests.[18] Some social media users have speculated that Iran International's narrative is an information operation by the regime aimed at obfuscating the possibility that anti-regime protesters killed Fathollahi.[19] CTP cannot independently verify either of these claims.
Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council may weaponize investigations into Soleimani’s death to target pro-Western entities in Iraq.
Head of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq Faiq Zaidan announced that Iraq's judiciary will pursue legal action against Iraqi and foreign individuals accused of assisting in the assassination of former IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.[25] Pro-Iranian political actors may use the low investigative threshold to retaliate against pro-US officials from the Kadhimi Administration.
Lebanese Hezbollah Deputy Secretary Naim Qassem met with Supreme Leader Foreign Affairs Advisor Ali Akbar Velayati in Tehran on January 5.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-crisis-update-january-5-2023