The Real News Podcast 'Blood everywhere': Iran's protests continue as violence rises
Jan 14, 2026
Samira Mohyeddin, an award-winning Iranian-Canadian journalist and founder of On the Line Media, shares insights on the escalating protests in Iran. She discusses how economic collapse sparked nationwide outrage, turning into a struggle for survival against a repressive regime. Personal accounts reveal bloody scenes on the streets as state violence rises. Mohyeddin also warns that foreign interventions could worsen the situation, stressing the grassroots and youth-led nature of these demonstrations driven by deep-seated grievances.
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Protests Are Nationwide And Existential
- Nationwide protests began with Tehran bazaar merchants and spread to every province, involving broad demographics beyond economic grievances.
- The movement now calls for regime change and targets the supreme leader, making it existential for Iran's government.
Foreign Statements Increase Repression Risk
- Israeli and U.S. officials publicly claiming involvement blur lines for Tehran and increase lethal repression risks.
- Mohyeddin says such statements function as sabotage, removing ambiguity between protesters and alleged foreign agents.
State Media Shows Bodies To Intimidate
- Mohyeddin describes state media showing protesters in body bags and overflowing morgues to intimidate the public.
- She relays a contact who reports drones, blood in the streets, and de facto martial law in Mazandaran.