Iran tightens pressure on Tehran cafes amid protest fears
Authorities have expanded cafe closures beyond alleged hijab violations, targeting businesses accused of supporting or facilitating protests.
Iranian authorities have intensified closures and judicial action against cafes in Tehran, citing mandatory hijab violations and alleged support for anti-government protests, according to Deutsche Welle.
The human rights organisation HRANA, as cited by Deutsche Welle, reported that at least seven cafes and restaurants were shut on 19 July. Cafes at Vanak Park were also reportedly sealed, affecting at least 200 jobs.
The crackdown has included judicial action against cafe-chain owner Sadegh Saedinia. Iran’s Supreme Court reportedly upheld his 12-year-and-six-month prison sentence and the confiscation of his assets. His cafe branches, along with cafes including Lamiz and Voria, were reportedly closed by judicial order.
Authorities and pro-government media have portrayed cafes as potential gathering places for protesters and threats to national security. The report says enforcement broadened after protests reportedly began on 28 December 2025, moving beyond closures primarily linked to alleged compulsory-hijab violations.
Tehran’s cafe sector has expanded from about 300 venues in the early 2010s to as many as 4,000, according to estimates cited in the report. The venues are described as informal social spaces, particularly for younger and middle-class Iranians, making their regulation a broader issue of control over public interaction.
