Iranian police chief warns protesters to be treated as “enemies”

Iran’s top police officer, Ahmad-Reza Radan, has warned citizens that anyone protesting in alignment with the country’s foes will “no longer be seen as merely a protester, but as an enemy.”

This statement was made amid growing concerns that anti-government demonstrations could resume against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Caliber.Az reports, citing a Middle Eastern outlet.

Speaking on local state media on March 10, Radan added, “We will deal with them in the same way we deal with enemies. All our forces are also ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend our revolution.”

His warning follows a crackdown on nationwide protests in January, which were sparked by economic grievances in the sanctions-hit country. Iranian authorities acknowledge over 3,000 deaths during the unrest, including security personnel and bystanders, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts” by Iran’s enemies. However, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports more than 7,000 deaths, mostly protesters, and over 50,000 arrests.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump initially supported the protesters, threatening intervention during the deadly crackdown, though his focus later shifted to Iran’s nuclear program. On February 28, Washington and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran on Israeli and U.S. positions across the Gulf region.

By Khagan Isayev