Government Warns Protesters: Severe Charges Ahead

In the midst of protests that have lasted nearly two weeks in Iran, the regime is threatening to intensify its actions against demonstrators. According to the AP news agency, Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that anyone participating in protests would be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty in Iran.

The statement, broadcast by Iranian state television, cautioned that even those who “aided rioters” could face this charge. “Prosecutors must meticulously and promptly lay the groundwork for trials and decisive confrontations with those who, by betraying the nation and creating insecurity, seek foreign domination over the country,” it stated. The trials must be conducted without leniency, compassion, or indulgence.

Yesterday, large crowds once again protested in various major cities across the country, including the metropolises of Tehran and Mashhad. Despite an imposed internet blackout, people shared videos on social media showing gatherings at central locations.

State media reported that a municipal building in Karaj, west of Tehran, had been set on fire. State television broadcast footage of funerals for members of the security forces, who, according to the broadcaster, were killed during protests in the cities of Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan.

However, state television claimed that most cities in the country remained calm, contradicting the footage circulating on social media. These images have not been independently verified so far.

Conflicting Reports on Casualties

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the death toll in the protests has risen to at least 65. The organization, which relies on a network of activists within Iran, reported that more than 2,300 people have been arrested. On the other hand, state television and organizations close to the Iranian leadership, such as the Young Journalists’ Club, have only reported several deaths among security forces and government-loyal militias. These claims also remain unverified.

International Reactions

The EU, through Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has expressed full support for the demonstrators in Iran. “We clearly condemn the violent suppression of these legitimate demonstrations,” von der Leyen stated in an online message.

“The United States stands with the brave people of Iran,” tweeted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the social platform X. His department separately warned, “Don’t play games with President Trump. When he says he will do something, he means it.” President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military intervention if Iran continues to respond violently to the protests.

Call for Strikes by the Shah’s Son

Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah overthrown in 1979, has once again called for nationwide strikes in Iran from his exile in the USA. Pahlavi urged workers and employees in key sectors such as oil, gas, and energy to lay down their work. His goal is to weaken the financial lifelines and bring the oppressive apparatus to its knees. Pahlavi also called for demonstrations at 6:00 PM local time on Saturday and Sunday, aiming not just to take to the streets but to occupy and hold central squares in cities.

From his exile, Pahlavi is positioning himself as a leader in the opposition. In Iran, there has been no political force recognized by the demonstrators as a credible opposition for years. Therefore, many in the country are placing their hopes on support from abroad. During the current mass protests, the slogan “Long live the king” was also heard—a direct reference to the exiled son of the former Shah.

The protests, which began at the end of December, were triggered by a severe economic crisis and a sudden crash of the Iranian currency, Rial. Initially, angry merchants took to the streets in Tehran. The protests have since spread across the entire country.