The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards threatens the protesters in the country and calls for an end to the unrest. The fighters report directly to the spiritual leader Khamenei, but have not yet intervened. The warning could be an indication that they will take action soon.
The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Hussein Salami, has called for an end to the street protests that have been going on for more than 40 days. “The demonstrators should not overtax the patience of the system,” warned the general, according to a report by the state news agency IRNA. “We say it again to our young people: Today is the last day of the riots. Don’t come out on the streets anymore.” Nobody will allow the demonstrators to continue creating insecurity and turning the country’s universities into a “battlefield”. So far, the Revolutionary Guards have not taken part in the crackdown on the protests. The Revolutionary Guards report directly to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is also the de facto head of state.
In a speech, the general described the unrest since mid-September as a conspiracy by the United States, Britain, Israel and Saudi Arabia because these countries have suffered political defeats at the hands of Iran in recent years. Young people should not be influenced by this. “Don’t become pawns for the country’s enemies. Don’t sell your honor to America. Don’t slap the security forces who defend you in the face,” the military commander said. At the same time he offered the demonstrators: “The way back is still open for you.”
Observers took the speech as a warning to end the protests immediately – although it is unlikely that this will be successful. The authoritarian leadership in Tehran blames foreign powers – above all the United States – for the protests. For more than a month, she has massively restricted the internet and blocked social networks to make collusion between demonstrators more difficult.
Meanwhile, human rights group Hengaw said security forces opened fire at a girls’ school in the town of Sakes. According to the group, security forces have also shot at students at the Sanandach Medical School in Kurdistan province. Several students were injured and one was dead, Hengaw said.
The trigger for the mass protests was the death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini in mid-September. The vice squad arrested her for allegedly violating Islamic dress codes. She then died in police custody. Since then, tens of thousands have been demonstrating across the country against the government’s repressive course and the Islamic system of rule.
