Iran IRGC Threatens Harsh Response to New Protests

Teheran – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that any renewed protests against the government in Teheran will be met with a more forceful response than the crackdown on demonstrations that began in January, during which thousands were reportedly killed.

“The nefarious enemy, which failed to achieve its goals on the battlefield, is once again trying to instill fear and ignite street riots,” the IRGC stated in a televised address, according to state media. The Corps pledged a “stronger blow than on January 8th” should new unrest erupt.

The warning comes two weeks after a period of heightened tensions between Iran and both the United States and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated one of his objectives is to “create conditions for the downfall” of the Iranian government. U.S. President Donald Trump has also called on the Iranian people to overthrow their government.

Protests initially erupted in December over rising living costs, but quickly broadened into widespread demonstrations against the Iranian government. The most intense period of unrest occurred on January 8th, which Iranian authorities characterized as “riots” orchestrated by “terrorists” acting on behalf of Israel and the United States.

Official Iranian government figures report more than 3,000 deaths during the protests, claiming the majority were security personnel or civilians caught in the crossfire. However, these figures are disputed by international organizations.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported more than 7,000 deaths during the same period of unrest. These reports allege that Iranian security forces deliberately fired upon protestors.

The IRGC’s warning underscores the continued sensitivity surrounding protests within Iran and the government’s willingness to suppress dissent. The January demonstrations represented one of the most significant challenges to the Iranian theocracy in years, and the government’s response was widely condemned internationally.

The European Union formally designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in late January, a move prompted by the crackdown on protestors. According to reports from Deutsche Welle, the decision followed a softening of France’s position, which had been concerned about the fate of European nationals held in Iranian prisons. While the EU’s designation is considered largely symbolic, it carries significant political weight and places the IRGC alongside groups such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and ISIS.

Alongside the terrorist designation, the EU also imposed new sanctions on 15 Iranian officials and six entities, including asset freezes and travel bans. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the decision as “long overdue,” stating that “a regime that drowns its own people in blood deserves to be called terrorist.”

The IRGC, which reports directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, played a central role in the suppression of the protests. The Basij volunteer force, a paramilitary wing of the IRGC, was reportedly at the forefront of the crackdown.

Teheran has strongly condemned the EU’s designation, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calling it a “major strategic mistake.”

Recent events also include a claim by the IRGC that it launched a missile strike against a U.S. Warship in the Indian Ocean, hundreds of kilometers from Iranian borders. According to DetikNews, the IRGC claims the strike hit the vessel with Ghadr-380 and Talaeieh missiles. The Ghadr is a medium-range ballistic missile with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, while the Talaeieh is a strategic cruise missile capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometers away. The IRGC alleges the attack caused a large fire on both the U.S. Warship and a refueling tanker.

These escalating tensions, coupled with the IRGC’s recent warning, suggest a continued period of instability and potential for further conflict in the region. The Iranian government appears determined to maintain control and suppress any challenges to its authority, while external actors continue to exert pressure and express support for potential regime change.