IranProtests – Police Chief Warns Harsh Action Against Support for Foreign Enemies

IranProtests –  Iran’s top police commander has warned that demonstrators who align themselves with the country’s foreign adversaries will no longer be treated simply as protesters but as enemies of the state, raising concerns that authorities could adopt even tougher measures against potential unrest.

Police Chief Issues Stark Warning

Speaking in remarks broadcast late Tuesday on Iran’s state television network IRIB, national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said individuals participating in demonstrations while supporting the country’s external rivals would face severe consequences.

According to Radan, anyone who acts “in line with the wishes of the enemy” should not expect to be regarded as a civilian protester. Instead, he said, such individuals would be handled as hostile actors. He added that security forces would respond in the same way they would deal with an enemy threat.

Radan also emphasized that police and security units remain fully prepared to defend the country’s political system. He stated that forces are on high alert and ready to respond if the situation demands it.

Concerns Over Renewed Anti-Government Demonstrations

The warning comes amid fears that anti-government protests could resurface in Iran at a time when regional tensions remain high due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Earlier this year, authorities carried out a sweeping crackdown on demonstrations that erupted in January. The unrest had begun weeks earlier, largely driven by economic grievances in a country struggling under international sanctions and rising living costs.

Iranian officials described the demonstrations as riots and accused foreign actors of encouraging instability inside the country.

During the unrest, Radan publicly called on participants to surrender to authorities, warning that those who did not comply would face the full force of the law.

Conflicting Accounts of Death Toll

The Iranian government has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people were killed during the period of unrest. Officials say the casualties included members of security forces as well as civilians caught in the violence.

Authorities maintain that much of the bloodshed resulted from what they describe as terrorist acts carried out by groups backed by Iran’s enemies.

However, independent monitoring groups have reported significantly higher figures. The United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has documented more than 7,000 deaths linked to the crackdown, stating that most of those killed were protesters.

HRANA also reports that more than 50,000 people were arrested during the period of unrest, though the exact number remains difficult to verify independently.

International Tensions Add to Domestic Pressure

The internal situation in Iran has unfolded alongside heightened geopolitical tensions involving the United States and Israel.

At the start of the protests, US President Donald Trump voiced support for demonstrators and warned Tehran that Washington could intervene if the government continued its crackdown. Those statements later shifted focus toward concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

The conflict escalated sharply on February 28, when the United States carried out strikes alongside Israel targeting sites inside Iran. Tehran responded with retaliatory attacks aimed at Israeli targets and American military installations across the Gulf region.

Analysts say the combination of regional conflict and domestic dissatisfaction could increase pressure on Iran’s leadership, particularly if economic hardships continue and public anger resurfaces.

For now, the government appears determined to prevent any repeat of the mass protests seen earlier this year, with security forces signaling a readiness to respond swiftly to any new demonstrations.