Mehdi Validoost
He was shot dead by Iranian government forces.
On the evening of Wednesday, January 7, 2026, between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., Iranian government forces opened fire on demonstrators in Chenaran. Mehdi Validoost was on Khomeini Boulevard when he was hit by direct gunfire from Kalashnikov rifles. He was transported to a hospital but died from his injuries.
Biography
Mehdi Validoost was a Kurdish resident from the village of Ghazal-Kan in Chenaran, Razavi Khorasan Province. He was one of at least five protesters killed by Iranian government forces during popular protests in the city. He was shot dead on Khomeini Boulevard on the evening of the protests.
Mehdi Validoost was from Ghazal-Kan, a village in Chenaran County. The report does not specify his age, occupation, or other personal details. He is identified alongside Morteza Jahanbakhsh (also from Ghazal-Kan) as one of the victims shot with Kalashnikov rifles during the same incident.
At least five Kurdish residents have been killed by direct gunfire from Iranian government forces during popular protests in Chenaran, located in Razavi Khorasan Province.
Sources & References
At least five Kurdish residents killed by Iranian forces during protests in Chenaran1 hengaw.net Open source
A sculptor, a teenage footballer and a hairdresser: Here are the stories of some of those killed in Iran protests2 news.sky.com Open source
Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, has identified the victims as Mehdi Ghorbandoust, Mehdi Validoost, Morteza Jahanbakhsh, Ruhollah Setareh Moshtari, and Mohammadreza Gorouhi.3 instagram.com Open source