Tehran: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that any renewed protests against the government would face a harsher response than the crackdown seen earlier this year.
In a statement broadcast on state television on Friday, the Guards said hostile forces were attempting to stir unrest after failing to achieve their objectives through military confrontation. The force warned that any attempt to spark street demonstrations would be met with “a stronger blow” than the action taken on January 8.
The warning comes amid ongoing tensions during the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said one of the objectives of the campaign is to create conditions that could lead to the fall of the Iranian government.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has also called on the Iranian public to challenge the current leadership.
Large-scale protests first erupted in December, initially driven by anger over rising living costs. The demonstrations later evolved into a wider movement criticising the authorities and their policies.
According to Iranian officials, the unrest peaked on January 8 with violent incidents they described as riots carried out by groups allegedly backed by foreign powers. The government’s official figures place the death toll at more than 3,000, claiming many of those killed were members of security forces or bystanders.
However, international rights groups have disputed the official account. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported that the number of fatalities may exceed 7,000 and accused security forces of firing on demonstrators.
Iran has been governed as an Islamic republic since the Iranian Revolution, which brought the current political system to power.