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Iran protests: 'Iron fist' threatened if unrest continues | Iran protests: 'Iron fist' threatened if unrest continues |
(35 minutes later) | |
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned anti-government protesters they will face the nation's "iron fist" if political unrest continues. | Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned anti-government protesters they will face the nation's "iron fist" if political unrest continues. |
Three days of demonstrations over falling living standards have become the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009. | Three days of demonstrations over falling living standards have become the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009. |
A Revolutionary Guards commander said the protests had degenerated into people chanting political slogans and burning public property. | A Revolutionary Guards commander said the protests had degenerated into people chanting political slogans and burning public property. |
Two protesters died of gunshot wounds. | Two protesters died of gunshot wounds. |
The authorities in Dorud in western Iran said security forces did not open fire on demonstrators, and blamed the deaths instead on Sunni Muslim extremists and foreign powers. | The authorities in Dorud in western Iran said security forces did not open fire on demonstrators, and blamed the deaths instead on Sunni Muslim extremists and foreign powers. |
Correspondents say the reference to foreign intelligence agencies was intended to mean Saudi Arabia. | Correspondents say the reference to foreign intelligence agencies was intended to mean Saudi Arabia. |
Iran imposed "temporary" restrictions on social networks Telegram and Instagram on Saturday. | |
The decision was taken "to maintain tranquillity and security of society", a source told state news agency IRIB. | |
Protesters in the cities of Khoramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz called for the removal or death of Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | Protesters in the cities of Khoramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz called for the removal or death of Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. |
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is a powerful force with ties to the country's supreme leader, and is dedicated to preserving the country's Islamic system. | Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is a powerful force with ties to the country's supreme leader, and is dedicated to preserving the country's Islamic system. |
Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari told the ISNA news agency: "If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those slogans and burned public property and cars." | Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari told the ISNA news agency: "If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those slogans and burned public property and cars." |
Iran's interior minister has also warned the public that protesters will be held accountable. | Iran's interior minister has also warned the public that protesters will be held accountable. |
"Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price," Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli said. | "Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price," Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli said. |
"The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted." | "The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted." |
Where will the protests lead? | Where will the protests lead? |
Analysis by Kasra Naji, BBC Persian | Analysis by Kasra Naji, BBC Persian |
There is widespread and seething discontent in Iran where repression is pervasive and economic hardship is getting worse - one BBC Persian investigation has found that on average Iranians have become 15% poorer in the past 10 years. | |
Protests have remained confined to relatively small pockets of mostly young male demonstrators who are demanding the overthrow of the clerical regime. | Protests have remained confined to relatively small pockets of mostly young male demonstrators who are demanding the overthrow of the clerical regime. |
Protests have spread to even small towns throughout the country and have a potential to grow in size. | Protests have spread to even small towns throughout the country and have a potential to grow in size. |
But there is no obvious leadership. Opposition figures have long been silenced or sent into exile. | But there is no obvious leadership. Opposition figures have long been silenced or sent into exile. |
Even in exile, there is no one opposition figure that commands a large following. Some protesters have been calling for the return of the monarchy and the former shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile in the United States, has issued a statement supporting the demonstrations. But there are signs that he is as much in the dark about where these protests are going as anyone else. | |
BBC Persian, which broadcasts on TV, on radio and online from London, is banned in Iran - where staff and their families routinely face harassment and questioning from the authorities. | BBC Persian, which broadcasts on TV, on radio and online from London, is banned in Iran - where staff and their families routinely face harassment and questioning from the authorities. |
What has been happening? | What has been happening? |
Protests began in the north-eastern city of Mashhad on Thursday and spread to other major cities on Friday. | Protests began in the north-eastern city of Mashhad on Thursday and spread to other major cities on Friday. |
A small demonstration in Tehran grew to several thousand people on Saturday, and students clashed with police. The protests also became violent in several other towns. | A small demonstration in Tehran grew to several thousand people on Saturday, and students clashed with police. The protests also became violent in several other towns. |
Among the recent events across Iran: | Among the recent events across Iran: |
There is also anger at Iran's interventions abroad. In Mashhad, some chanted "not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran", a reference to what protesters say is the administration's focus on foreign rather than domestic issues. | There is also anger at Iran's interventions abroad. In Mashhad, some chanted "not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran", a reference to what protesters say is the administration's focus on foreign rather than domestic issues. |
Iran is a key provider of military support to the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. It is also accused of providing arms to Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which it denies, and is an ally of Lebanon's powerful Shia movement Hezbollah. | Iran is a key provider of military support to the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. It is also accused of providing arms to Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which it denies, and is an ally of Lebanon's powerful Shia movement Hezbollah. |
What has been the response, at home and abroad? | What has been the response, at home and abroad? |
The Iranian authorities are blaming anti-revolutionaries and agents of foreign powers for the outbreak. | The Iranian authorities are blaming anti-revolutionaries and agents of foreign powers for the outbreak. |
Also on Saturday, thousands of pro-government demonstrators turned out for pre-arranged rallies to mark the eighth anniversary of the suppression of the 2009 street protests. | Also on Saturday, thousands of pro-government demonstrators turned out for pre-arranged rallies to mark the eighth anniversary of the suppression of the 2009 street protests. |
The US has led international support for the protesters. | The US has led international support for the protesters. |
President Donald Trump tweeted: "Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching!" | President Donald Trump tweeted: "Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching!" |
Iran's foreign ministry called earlier comments from Mr Trump and other US officials "opportunistic and deceitful". | Iran's foreign ministry called earlier comments from Mr Trump and other US officials "opportunistic and deceitful". |
Who are the Revolutionary Guards? | Who are the Revolutionary Guards? |
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was set up shortly after the 1979 Iranian revolution to defend the country's Islamic system. | Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was set up shortly after the 1979 Iranian revolution to defend the country's Islamic system. |
It has since become a major force in the political, economic and military life of the country, with its own ground forces, navy and air force. It controls a volunteer militia of tens of thousands of people - the Basij Resistance Force. | It has since become a major force in the political, economic and military life of the country, with its own ground forces, navy and air force. It controls a volunteer militia of tens of thousands of people - the Basij Resistance Force. |
The IRGC sometimes works alongside police, and it was announced in December that it would do this again. | The IRGC sometimes works alongside police, and it was announced in December that it would do this again. |
Its stature says it will co-operate with law enforcement forces "when necessary" but there has been some controversy over its scope when dealing with civilians. | Its stature says it will co-operate with law enforcement forces "when necessary" but there has been some controversy over its scope when dealing with civilians. |