11.01.2026 09:22
During a protest held in London, a demonstrator climbed the balcony of the Iranian Embassy, took down the Iranian flag, and replaced it with the pre-revolution "Lion and Sun" flag. Police teams announced that one person was detained for unauthorized entry into the embassy property, while another person was being sought.
Hundreds of people gathered in London, the capital of England, in support of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's ousted leader Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the protests in Iran.
The Israel-supporting group Stop the Hate also called for action with the message, "Iranians in the UK have stood by us during our darkest times for two years. Now it's our turn. Stand up for a free Iran. Ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)."
HUNG THE PRE-REVOLUTION FLAG AT THE EMBASSY
In addition to those responding to this call, the protest included supporters of the monarchy led by Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in 1979, with Israeli flags and the pre-revolution Iranian flags featuring the lion and sun.
At the protest in Kensington, London, a demonstrator climbed the balcony of the Iranian Embassy and took down the Iranian flag. Instead, they hung the Iranian flag featuring the lion and sun symbols.
As the protester hung the pre-revolution Iranian flag in place of the one they took down, the London Metropolitan Police announced that one person had been arrested for unauthorized entry into the embassy property, and another person was being sought.
The police also stated that another protester had been arrested on charges of assaulting emergency service workers and that between 500 and 1,000 protesters participated in the demonstration.
The London Police reported that the number of officers in front of the embassy had also been increased.
PROTESTS IN IRAN
Protests initiated by shopkeepers in the Tehran Grand Bazaar on December 28, 2025, due to the significant depreciation of the local currency against foreign exchange rates and economic issues, spread to many cities across the country.
While no official statement was made regarding those killed or injured in the protests, the Iran Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on January 9 (the 13th day of the protests) that 65 people, including 15 security personnel, had lost their lives, dozens had been injured, and 2,311 had been detained.
The Tasnim News Agency reported that the number of police injured in the protests had risen to 568 and the number of militia forces (Basij) to 66.
While public institutions and vehicles were damaged in various incidents across the country, a warning was issued in the capital Tehran yesterday to "stay indoors."