Iran’s armed forces have issued a unified call for public vigilance against what they term ‘enemy plots’ while vowing to protect national infrastructure amid the most significant civil unrest in years. The military’s statement, released Saturday, coincided with separate warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) characterizing national security as an inviolable ‘red line’.
The demonstrations, initially sparked by economic grievances including rampant inflation, have rapidly evolved into political challenges against the clerical establishment. According to human rights organizations documenting the crisis, at least 65 fatalities have been confirmed—including 50 protesters and 15 security personnel—with over 2,500 arrests reported nationwide.
International tensions have escalated concurrently, with U.S. President Donald Trump issuing provocative statements suggesting potential American intervention. ‘You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too,’ Trump declared Friday, amplifying his administration’s support for demonstrators.
Iranian authorities maintain that external actors, particularly Israel and ‘hostile terrorist groups,’ are orchestrating the unrest. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused protesters of acting as foreign ‘mercenaries,’ while state media broadcasts footage of security force funerals and attributes violence to ‘rioters.’
The government’s response has included widespread internet restrictions and deployment of both conventional military and IRGC units. Medical professionals in northwestern regions report treating numerous protesters with severe injuries including gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma, and fractures.
Reza Pahlavi, US-based son of Iran’s deposed monarch, has emerged as an influential voice advocating for escalated demonstrations and nationwide strikes. However, the White House has indicated reluctance to formally endorse any opposition figure during the ongoing crisis.
European powers including France, Britain and Germany have jointly condemned the violence, urging Iranian authorities to exercise restraint while expressing concern over protester fatalities. The situation represents the most substantial challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership since the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement, testing the regime’s stability amid economic hardship and international isolation.