Red Crosshairs: Iran Regime Targets Hospital in Bloodthirsty Raid; Shoots Injured Protesters, Violates International Law
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is calling on the international media to spotlight one of the most egregious violations of human rights in recent Iranian history: the brutal attack on Khomeini Hospital in Ilam by the regime’s Revolutionary Guards, which took place on Sunday, January 4, 2026, the eighth day of nationwide protests and the day after the Malekshahi massacre.
Iranian Americans Shirin Nariman, Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad, Dr. Kazem Kazerounian, and Seena Saiedian are available for interviews to discuss this most recent heinous act of desperation on the part of the Iranian regime.
According to the NCRI Secretariat, this attack was not incidental; it was a premeditated assault aimed at abducting wounded protesters who had been hospitalized after being shot by the same regime forces. Tear gas was fired inside the hospital, and the medical staff, along with young citizens present, courageously resisted, closing wards to protect patients and attempting to block mercenary forces from entering. Despite these efforts, the Revolutionary Guards forcibly stormed the hospital, opened indiscriminate fire on those defending the wounded, and arrested many patients, family members, and supporters.
The outrage is palpable. Residents of Ilam, alongside rebellious youth, quickly surrounded the hospital, chanting “Dishonorable! Dishonorable!” to prevent the transfer of the wounded, reflecting the community’s determination to protect life in the face of state-sponsored terror. Families of the wounded and members of the Lak tribes have warned that they will take up arms if their loved ones are not released, demonstrating the deepening resolve of ordinary citizens in confronting the regime’s brutality.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, has condemned the attack as an “unforgivable crime,” emphasizing that Khamenei’s attempt to suppress the Iranian people through extreme brutality will only escalate the nationwide uprising. She has called on people and youth in neighboring provinces to stand in solidarity with Ilam and urged the global community not to remain silent in the face of these crimes against humanity.
NCRI spokespersons are available to provide live analysis, firsthand accounts, and visual context of the attack, and to discuss its significance within the broader nationwide uprising. They can explain the implications of the regime’s increasingly reckless tactics, the escalating involvement of armed citizens, and the urgent need for international condemnation of systematic human rights violations by the Iranian regime.
This is an opportunity for media outlets to report on a stark illustration of Iran’s ongoing crackdown on its own people—an attack that defies international law, targets medical facilities, and underscores the extreme measures the regime is willing to take to maintain power.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is a political movement that seeks self-determination for the Iranian people. It says it not only doesn’t need outside assistance; it doesn’t want it.
NCRI spokespeople are available to discuss the significance of this uprising, the deadly crackdown underway, and why only the Iranian people should determine their future.
Visit National Council of Resistance of Iran – NCRI
Speakers Available:
Seena Saidian – Free Iran and Human Rights advocate; J.D. Candidate at University of Virginia School of Law
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad – Iranian American Scholar and Cybersecurity Executive
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian – Dean of College of Engineering; expert on Iran’s Nuclear program
Related Article(s)
Iran: Crimes Against Humanity in Ilam
The Revolutionary Guards’ Brutal Attack on the hospital in Ilam and the kidnapping of the wounded in the Malekshahi massacre
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi: “Attacking the hospital and kidnapping the wounded is an unforgivable crime. The world must not remain silent in the face of crimes against humanity.”
On Sunday, January 4, 2026—the eighth day of the nationwide uprising and the day after the brutal Malekshahi massacre—henchmen of the regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, stormed Khomeini Hospital in Ilam. This grave crime and violation of international conventions was carried out to abduct wounded protesters who had been hospitalized after being shot by the same perpetrators.
The repressive forces fired tear gas inside the hospital. They were met with courageous resistance from the medical staff, as well as from people and young individuals present, who attempted to block their entry into the wards where patients were being treated. To protect the lives of the wounded, doctors and nurses closed the ward doors and tried to prevent the mercenaries from gaining access.
Upon learning of this criminal act, residents of Ilam and rebellious youth quickly gathered around the hospital and confronted the mercenaries, chanting “Dishonorable! Dishonorable!” in an effort to prevent the transfer of the wounded. In response, the Revolutionary Guards opened indiscriminate fire on the people and the hospital.
During this brutal raid, many of the wounded, their family members, and people who had gathered in support were arrested. The families of the wounded and members of the Lak tribes have warned that they will take up arms if their loved ones are not released.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
Optional Q&A
- How did the Revolutionary Guards justify storming Khomeini Hospital and abducting wounded protesters?
- What does the attack on medical staff and patients reveal about the Iranian regime’s approach to human rights?
- How did local residents and youth respond to the hospital raid, and what does it indicate about public sentiment?
- What role have the Lak tribes and other communities played in resisting regime violence in Ilam?
- Why does Mrs. Maryam Rajavi describe this attack as a “crime against humanity,” and what international laws does it violate?
- How does this escalation fit into the broader pattern of the nationwide uprising across Iran?
- What message does the NCRI have for the international community regarding the regime’s targeting of hospitals and civilians?
- How might these extreme measures by the Revolutionary Guards impact the momentum of protests and the likelihood of further unrest?
ABOUT SHIRIN NARIMAN…
Shirin Nariman is a former political prisoner from Iran, human rights advocate, and entrepreneur.
At just 15 years old, during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she became involved in pro-democracy activities and supported the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Less than two years later, she was arrested for her activism—becoming one of the youngest political prisoners of her time and enduring severe torture in Evin Prison. Her case drew international attention and intervention from the Red Cross.
During her imprisonment, Shirin witnessed the regime’s brutality firsthand, including the executions of children, elderly women, and pregnant prisoners. After her release, she eventually sought refuge in the United States, where she has dedicated her life to advocating for human rights, women’s rights, and a free, democratic, non-nuclear Iran.
Shirin holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and has worked with leading wireless and financial corporations.
ABOUT SEENA SAIEDIAN…
Seena Saiedian is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he is a Karsh-Dillard Scholar, an editor on the Virginia Law Review, and Symposium Chair for the Federalist Society. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Computer Science. Prior to law school, Seena had a career as a private equity analyst at an investment firm.
An avid advocate for the pro-democracy movement in Iran, Seena has regularly spoken at international human rights conferences and has written extensively about U.S.-Iran policy and the pathway to regime change in Iran. His writing has appeared in national publications including the National Interest, the Federalist, and Townhall.
ABOUT DR. RAMESH SEPEHRRAD…
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad is a leading Iranian-American scholar, published author, cybersecurity executive, and human rights advocate, known for her tireless efforts to advance a non-nuclear, secular, and democratic republic in Iran. As Chair of the Advisory Board of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), she plays a pivotal role in bipartisan majority of congressional advocacy, including support for various house resolutions, which endorses the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom and Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan.
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Ramesh’s commitment to justice is deeply personal. Her family endured brutal persecution under both the Shah’s monarchy and the current theocratic regime. Several relatives were imprisoned, tortured, or executed for their opposition to tyranny—an experience that has shaped her life’s mission to amplify the voices of Iran’s oppressed.
After seeking refuge in the United States in 1985, Dr. Sepehrrad earned a B.S. in Computer Science from SUNY Buffalo, an M.A. in Political Science, and a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She has also taught graduate courses on conflict, gender, and human rights at George Mason, University of Connecticut where she was inducted as the Distinguished Engineer, and University of Baltimore.
Professionally, she has held senior executive roles in cybersecurity and risk management where she has earned numerous industry awards and recognition.
Through academic rigor, policy engagement, and grassroots mobilization, Dr. Sepehrrad is a compelling voice for democratic change in Iran—rejecting both monarchy and theocracy in favor of a republic rooted in gender equality, human rights and the rule of law.
ABOUT DR. KAZEM KAZEROUNIAN…
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut and served as Dean of the College of Engineering from 2012 to 2024.
He is a member of The Free Iran Scholars Network. A passionate advocate for democracy and human rights, Dr. Kazerounian is also an expert on Iran and the Middle East, particularly regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, and human rights situation in Iran. He has contributed widely through scholarly articles, invited talks, and media interviews on regional affairs and the democratic movement in Iran.
Nationally, he has held leadership roles with ASEE and ASME, shaping engineering policy and education. His honors include the ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Award, AIMBE Fellowship, and induction into the Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering.
An ASME Fellow, his research spans kinematics, robotics, and biomechanics. He has authored over 160 scholarly works and co-founded AcademicKeys.com and AcademicJournal.com, a professional platform and an online journal for academics.
This material is distributed by Special Guests Publicity LLC on behalf of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) / Media Strategy Consulting LTD. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
CONTACT: For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Jerry McGlothlin at 919-437-0001 / Bookings@SpecialGuests.com
