Demonstrations linked to nationwide unrest in Iran have intensified in London, with arrests and clashes reported outside the Iranian Embassy, among growing international concern over Tehran’s response to mass protests
BY FRANCESCA RAPISARDA
At least 14 people were arrested by the Metropolitan Police on January 16 following clashes during protests near the Iranian Embassy in Kensington, where demonstrators attempted to replace the Islamic Republic’s flag with pre-1979 symbols, police said. Officers were injured in the confrontations, and four people were taken to the hospital.
Chants and slogans against the Iranian leadership, as well as displays of the historic Lion and Sun flag, have been used in the protests as a potent emblem to advocate for regime change.
The London protests come against the backdrop of one of the most intense waves of dissent in Iran in years. Nationwide demonstrations that erupted in late December 2025 over economic hardship and political repression have spread across all 31 Iranian provinces, drawing tens of thousands into the streets.
Figures reported by U.S.–based outlets and human rights organisations cited more than 2,000 deaths and over 26,000 arrests, while some news reports suggested casualties could be significantly higher due to media blackouts and communications shutdowns in Iran.
Iran’s government has maintained that the unrest was caused by external enemies, even as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pushed back against calls for reform or international intervention.
Protests in London have included large rallies along central streets such as Regent Street, where thousands of demonstrators, including members of the Iranian diaspora and allied activists, marched in solidarity with those inside Iran. Participants carried placards and chanted slogans calling for political change and international attention to what they describe as “mass killings” and “crimes against humanity.”
Earlier rallies were held outside the British Prime Minister’s Office and the Iranian Embassy in January, with demonstrators urging the UK government to adopt tougher sanctions against Tehran and to publicly condemn the crackdown. Members of community groups, exiled scholars, and activists representing different wings of the Iranian opposition have taken part in these demonstrations.
The unrest has also intensified debate within the UK political establishment. Addressing the House of Commons on 13 January, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain “condemns in the strongest terms” the Iranian authorities’ use of violence against protesters, describing the crackdown as “in keeping with the fundamental nature and track record of the regime.”
Cooper said the government would move to impose further sanctions in coordination with international partners, including the European Union. The measures, she said, would target sectors such as finance, energy, transport, and software, which London says are linked to Iran’s nuclear escalation.
London’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has also issued travel advisories cautioning citizens against travel to Iran, given the volatile security situation and ongoing heavy restrictions on communication and movement.
The situation has strained Tehran’s diplomatic position, with tensions rising not only with Western capitals but also within the Middle East diplomatic landscape. In response to growing international criticism, Iranian officials have doubled down on rhetoric against external interference, warning of possible retaliatory measures if attacks against regime leadership occur.
Read more:
“Every Woman Has Been Forced To Be Strong”: Inside Gaza’s Healthcare Catastrophe
