SHOTLIST:

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JAN. 16, 2026) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. PROTESTER HOLDING LARGE BANNER IN SUPPORT OF IRANIAN GOVERNMENT

2. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS AND SIGNS, INCLUDING PHOTOS OF GRAND AYATOLLAH ALI AL-SISTANI AND SUPREME LEADER ALI KHAMENEI, CHANTING SLOGANS BAGHDAD, IRAQ - JAN. 16: A group gathered outside the Iranian Embassy in Iraq’s capital Baghdad to protest the recent anti-government demonstrations taking place across Iran on Friday, Jan. 16.

The demonstrators carried posters of prominent Shiite religious authorities, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The anti-government protests began on Dec. 28 in the capital Tehran, when shopkeepers, merchants, and small business owners staged strikes and demonstrations to protest soaring inflation, the collapsing rial, and deteriorating economic conditions.

A US-based human rights group said at least 2,677 people were killed during the protests and nearly 19,100 others were detained, while Iranian authorities have not released an official toll yet.

The demonstrations have since spread to multiple cities and escalated into anti-government expressions of discontent involving workers, students, and others.

Iranian government officials have accused the US and Israel of backing what they described as “riots” and “terrorism.”