Iran’s judiciary vows zero tolerance as protests spread nationwide, with economic anger, arrests and internet blackouts colliding with escalating warnings from Tehran, Washington and exiled opposition voices….reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s judiciary has issued one of its strongest warnings in years, vowing “no leniency” for anyone accused of aiding what it describes as enemies of the Islamic Republic, as widespread protests intensify across the country amid deepening economic distress and rising international scrutiny.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, Iran’s Chief Justice, said those taking part in unrest or supporting what authorities label as “riots” would be treated as collaborators with hostile foreign powers. Speaking through state media, Ejei directly blamed the United States and Israel for fuelling the demonstrations, claiming external forces were seeking to destabilise the country.
“From now on, there will be no leniency for whoever helps the enemy against the Islamic Republic and the calm of the people,” Ejei said, adding that there was “no excuse” for continued street protests following public statements by US and Israeli leaders backing demonstrators.
Economic anger sparks protests
Iran is witnessing its largest wave of protests in three years, triggered initially by the sharp collapse of the Iranian rial and spiralling living costs. The unrest began late last month in Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar, where shopkeepers shut their businesses in protest against economic hardship. Since then, demonstrations have spread rapidly to cities and towns across the country.
Public anger has been fuelled by soaring prices, unemployment, Western sanctions, alleged economic mismanagement and longstanding restrictions on political and social freedoms. Markets and bazaars in several regions have closed in solidarity with protesters, signalling the depth of discontent across different sections of society.
Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators setting fires, dismantling protest barricades and, in some cases, tearing down flags of the Islamic Republic. In the southern city of Shiraz, footage showed security forces driving through a barricade bearing the slogan “We revolt due to hunger”, a phrase that has become emblematic of the current unrest.
Military issues parallel warning
The judiciary’s hardline stance has been echoed by Iran’s military leadership. Army chief Major General Amir Hatami warned that Tehran would respond decisively to what he described as hostile rhetoric and external threats. Speaking at a military academy, Hatami said Iran would “cut off the hand of any aggressor” and asserted that the country’s armed forces were more prepared than ever.
“If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response,” Hatami said, framing the protests within a broader narrative of national security and foreign interference.
The warnings come against the backdrop of increasingly blunt statements from Washington. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly cautioned Tehran against harming protesters, warning that the United States would intervene if “peaceful demonstrators” were killed. Trump said the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go”, remarks that have heightened tensions at a sensitive moment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also voiced support for Iranian protesters, suggesting that the country may be at a point where “the Iranian people are taking their fate into their own hands”.
Blackouts, arrests and rising casualty claims
As protests entered their second week, Iran experienced a nationwide internet blackout, further restricting communication and limiting the flow of information. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said the disruption appeared to be part of escalating digital censorship measures targeting the protests and hindering public communication at a critical moment.
While Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures, rights groups and activists estimate that at least 36 to 41 people have been killed and more than 2,000 detained since the unrest began. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of at least two security personnel and injuries to several others.
Pressure is also mounting on Iran’s civilian administration and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has vowed not to “yield to the enemy”. In a bid to calm public anger, the government announced monthly assistance of around USD 7 to offset rising food prices, a move that has been widely criticised as symbolic and inadequate.
Exiled voices and global appeals
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has emerged as a focal point for protest mobilisation, calling for mass demonstrations and urging international leaders to support the Iranian people. He condemned the internet shutdown and appealed for global efforts to restore communication channels, warning against the silencing of public voices.
Prominent activist and journalist Masih Alinejad has also called on the international community to back protesters, saying the demands of the Iranian people were clear and irreversible. She urged technology leaders to help Iranians regain internet access and pressed world powers to support a transition towards a secular democracy.
US lawmakers have intensified their rhetoric as well. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned Iran’s leadership of severe consequences if protesters continued to be harmed, while US Vice President JD Vance reiterated support for peaceful demonstrators and their right to free expression.
