Iranian authorities signaled a harsher crackdown on anti-government protests on Saturday, with security agencies warning that the unrest posed a direct threat to public order and state institutions.
Senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the protests as the work of “terrorists” and pledged to defend the political system, calling the protection of the Islamic Revolution’s achievements and national security a “red line.”
The regular military also vowed to “protect national interests, strategic infrastructure, and public property.”
Clashes continued across multiple cities, though internet restrictions have made it difficult to gauge the full scale of the demonstrations, Reuters reported.
The escalation comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning hinting at potential intervention. State media broadcast images of funerals for security personnel reportedly killed in Shiraz, Qom, Hamedan, and other cities.
Social media footage showed crowds gathering in Tehran after nightfall, with fires burning in the streets.
In one verified video from the Saadatabad district, a man is heard saying protesters had taken control of the area while chants of “Death to the dictator, death to Khamenei” could be heard.
The unrest began on December 28, initially in response to soaring inflation and economic hardship, but quickly expanded into broader political demands. Protesters have called for an end to clerical rule, while authorities accuse the United States and Israel of fueling the crisis.
Iranian rights group HRANA estimates at least 50 protesters and 15 security personnel have been killed, with around 2,300 people arrested.
A witness in western Iran said IRGC units had been deployed and were “opening fire” in the area, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.
The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that 100 “armed rioters” were detained in Baharestan, near Tehran.
Authorities also reported municipal buildings being set on fire and both public and private property damaged.
Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, intensified his calls for nationwide action. In a video posted on X, he said the Islamic Republic would be brought
“to its knees” and urged demonstrators to seize urban centers.
“Our goal is no longer merely to take to the streets; we aim to capture and hold city centers,” he said, adding that he is preparing to return to Iran.
Trump, who has repeatedly listed Iran as a potential target for U.S. action, warned Tehran against violently suppressing protesters.
“You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too. I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” he said.
Medical reports indicate that the human toll of the unrest is rising. A doctor in northwestern Iran reported receiving large numbers of injured demonstrators since Friday, including people
“badly beaten” with head injuries, fractured limbs, and deep wounds. At least 20 patients were reportedly shot with live ammunition, five of whom later died.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of foreign powers, saying rioters were attacking public property and warning that Tehran would not tolerate citizens behaving as “mercenaries for foreigners.”
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