Iran signals intensified crackdown as protests spread across the country

DUBAI: Iranian authorities on Saturday indicated they could intensify their crackdown on the largest anti-government demonstrations in years, as the Revolutionary Guards blamed unrest on “terrorists” and vowed to protect the country’s governing system.

The unrest, which began on December 28 in response to soaring inflation, has spread nationwide, with protesters increasingly calling for an end to clerical rule. An ongoing internet blackout has made it difficult to verify the full scale of the protests.

State media reported that a municipal building in Karaj, west of Tehran, was set on fire and blamed “rioters” for the attack. State television broadcast funerals of security personnel allegedly killed during clashes in Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan.

Footage circulating on social media on Friday showed large crowds in Tehran, with fires lit on city streets at night. Reuters verified the locations using landmarks and satellite imagery.

Human rights group HRANA reported that at least 50 protesters and 15 security personnel have been killed, while around 2,300 people have been arrested.

Army, Guards issue warnings

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite force known for suppressing previous unrest, said “terrorists” had targeted military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights. The IRGC reported several deaths and property damage, warning that safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic Revolution and maintaining security was a “red line.”

The regular military also issued a statement saying it would “protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property.”

A witness in western Iran told Reuters that the IRGC had deployed and opened fire in his area, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the arrest of 100 “armed rioters” in the town of Baharestan, near Tehran.

Exiled Shah’s son urges broader revolt

In a video posted on social media platform X, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, called for protesters to seize town centres and prepare to challenge the clerical rulers directly. He said he was preparing to return to Iran soon.

“Our goal is no longer merely to come into the streets; the goal is to prepare to seize city centres and hold them,” Pahlavi said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran, saying he could support protesters if necessary, although he has not formally endorsed any opposition leader. Trump said on Friday: “I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now.”

Reports of injuries and deaths

Medical sources in northwestern Iran reported large numbers of injured protesters, many badly beaten with head injuries, broken limbs, and deep cuts. At least 20 people in one hospital had been shot with live ammunition, five of whom later died.

The IRGC said three members of the Basij security force were killed and five wounded during clashes in Gachsaran in southwestern Iran. Another officer was stabbed to death in Hamedan, while Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari’s son was killed in Ahmadabad, Mashhad. Two other security personnel were killed in Shushtar, Khuzestan province.

Authorities have repeatedly described the economic protests as legitimate but condemned violent rioters, accusing foreign powers, including the U.S., of fomenting unrest.