Facing mounting pressure from American sanctions and deepening economic and energy crises, Iran's regime appears increasingly concerned about internal unrest.
Senior Iranian officials are issuing preemptive warnings to citizens, threatening an even more severe response to any future demonstrations than the deadly crackdown that killed protesters during mass rallies earlier this year in Tehran and other cities.
Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, head of Iran's judiciary, delivered a stark warning to potential demonstrators, claiming the regime had previously shown restraint. "If they make the mistake again of thinking they can create riots and rebellions, they can be certain they will face a very strong and decisive response from police forces, security and intelligence forces, as well as the judicial system," he stated.
A senior commander in the Basij—the regime's civilian suppression force responsible for killing tens of thousands of protesters over the years—echoed the threat in comments to Iranian state media: "We will take a harder hand than before, we will not give space to those who cooperate with external enemies."
