CHALUS, Iran — In the ongoing wave of protests sweeping Iran, where citizens are demanding revolutionary change and the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, 35-year-old Payam Babo Kuhistani has become another tragic victim of regime violence. Kuhistani was killed by direct gunfire from a Basij paramilitary member while participating in street demonstrations in Chalus, located in northern Mazandaran province, on January 8, 2026. Reports indicate he was targeted in the midst of the unrest, which has seen millions rise up since late December 2025 over economic collapse and broader calls for freedom.