Chilling Footage: Iranian Security Forces Attack Protester with Axe [VERY GRAPHIC]

Newly released video footage from Bandar Abbas in southern Iran has exposed the extreme violence employed by security forces during the ongoing suppression of nationwide protests. The clip, dated January 9, 2026, shows regime personnel brutally assaulting a protester with an axe, amid screams of horror in the background.

This disturbing evidence adds to a growing body of testimonies documenting the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians. A senior Iranian Interior Ministry official who recently defected testified that security forces deliberately targeted protesters with live ammunition, deploying motorcycle units and armored vehicles across multiple provinces to quell the unrest.

The defector described the Islamic Republic as "merciless and willing to do anything" to maintain control, warning that the protests on January 8 and 9, 2026, were unprecedented in scale, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide internet blackout to prevent the spread of images and coordination among demonstrators.

The wave of protests, which erupted on January 8 over crippling economic conditions, hyperinflation, and corruption, has spread to over 280 locations across Iran, marking the largest demonstrations since the 2022 unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini. The defector also highlighted public anticipation for intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, stating, "People are waiting for Trump, and if he does nothing, there will be widespread hatred toward him among Iranians."

Trump has issued sharp threats against the Iranian regime. In a January 20, 2026, interview on NewsNation's "Katie Pavlich Tonight," he warned: "If anything ever happens—the whole country's going to get blown up. I have very firm instructions... We will simply wipe them off the face of this earth."

These comments follow Iranian state media broadcasting threats against Trump and reports of persistent assassination plots tied to retaliation for past U.S. actions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded, vowing that Tehran would "fire back with everything we have" if attacked, escalating the rhetoric amid fears of broader conflict.

The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to hold an emergency session on Iran on January 23 to address the "alarming violence."

The regime's communications blackout, including the seizure of satellite dishes to block services like Starlink, has limited information flow, but sporadic leaks continue to reveal the extent of the crackdown.

Protests have included acts of defiance, such as burning billboards and pro-monarchy chants in Bandar Abbas, reflecting deep-seated demands for regime change.