Iran tightens social control with crackdown on cafes

Iranian authorities have launched a clampdown on cafes in the capital, Tehran, in recent months, suspecting them of fostering anti-government sentiment and facilitating protests.

According to the human rights organization HRANA, at least seven cafes and restaurants were shut down on July 19 alone for allegedly failing to comply with mandatory hijab rules.

Previously, some media outlets, including Javan , a newspaper affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) , have described cafes as "gathering places for protesters" who, in their view, pose a threat to "national security."

Most recently, the "Vanak Park" cafes in Tehran were sealed, resulting in at least 200 people losing their jobs.

Authorities believe cafes, because of their widespread presence and popularity, could play a role in organizing mass protests.

The government's fears are rooted in the latest wave of protests in Iran, which began on December 28, 2025, and grew into the country's largest uprising since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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Saediniya, a well-known cafe chain with 10 branches in Iran, closed its branches on this day in support of calls for strikes. It was subsequently accused of engaging in "propaganda against the state."