Reza Moradi, a 17-year-old protester from the city of Azna in Lorestan province, died in hospital on Monday after being shot by security forces during demonstrations in western Iran last week, a source close to the family told Iran International.
The source told Iran International that Reza was shot by security forces during the protests on Thursday, January 1, 2026 in front of Azna’s central police station.
Security forces shot him with two bullets, one to the head and another to the lower torso, the source added.
The source said Reza was from the Abdolvand tribe, part of Iran’s Lur minority.
Video evidence verified and analyzed by Iran International from the evening of January 1 shows Reza unconscious and bleeding from the side of his head. Two sources identified the teenager in the footage as Reza.
After he was shot, citizens at the scene transferred him to Valian Hospital in Aligudarz. The source said the hospital was under heavy security and visits were not allowed, adding that only once, after repeated insistence, was Reza’s mother allowed to see him briefly.
The source said Reza died in hospital on Monday around 10am local time.
The source added that the family has approached several state institutions on Monday, including the police and the Revolutionary Guards, to receive Reza’s body, but authorities have so far refused to hand it over to family for burial.
Reza was the eldest child in the family and his father is a labourer, the source said.
“The family’s financial situation was poor," the source said adding that Reza dropped out of school and worked as an auto body repair and paint apprentice.
Asked about Reza’s motivation for joining the protests, the source said it was due to “poverty, hardship and rising prices,” adding that he was interested in sports, particularly wrestling.
Australia condemns violence by Iranian authorities and urges Tehran to respect the rights of peaceful protesters, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told Iran International.
Canberra said it continues to strongly advocate for the human rights of the Iranian people and reiterated that Iran remains a “do not travel” destination due to a volatile security situation and a high risk of detention, adding that Australia’s consular assistance capacity is extremely limited.
The government said it has taken strong action against Iran, including expanding its autonomous sanctions framework and sanctioning 200 Iran-linked individuals and entities since September 2022, nearly 100 of them linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The activity involves movements and coordination beyond normal patterns, including Iranian drone, missile and air-defence units, the sources said.
The developments could be linked to military exercises, Western officials with knowledge of the matter told Iran International but added that the scale and synchronization had drawn closer scrutiny.
Intelligence services are tracking command-and-control signals, deployments and logistical movements associated with the IRGC Air Force, the sources said.
The assessments come amid continued tensions between Iran and Western countries over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs, and speculation about the possibility of renewed Israeli or even US attacks on Iran.
NBC News reported earlier today that Israeli officials are preparing to brief US President Donald Trump on options for possible new military strikes on Iran, citing concerns that Tehran is expanding its ballistic missile program.
Israeli officials believe Iran is rebuilding facilities linked to ballistic missile production and repairing air defenses damaged in a 12-day war in June, which they view as more urgent concerns than nuclear enrichment and fears of Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon, NBC reported.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon but the United States and Western countries want Iran to end uranium enrichment, curb its missile power and rein its aid for armed groups in the region like Hamas and Hezbollah. Tehran has rejected the conditions.
Earlier this month, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed speculations about a possible fresh round of war on Iran, calling it part of “enemy propaganda”.
“Today, beyond these military confrontations — which have existed, as you have seen, and whose likelihood is constantly being talked up, with some even deliberately fanning the flames to create anxiety, though they will not succeed, God willing — we are facing a propaganda and media confrontation,” Khamenei said.
