Iran Declares Internal War, Threatens Lethal Force Against Protesters

Iran's Internal Security Commander, Ahmad-Reza Radan, announced a state of "internal warfare" on state television, labeling January protesters as foreign agents involved in a coup attempt. He revealed that over 6,000 individuals have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations, which began over economic hardship and currency devaluation but evolved into anti-regime calls.

Radan explicitly stated that any citizen who "sells their homeland" and attempts to create insecurity would be treated as an enemy, with security forces ready to use lethal force without hesitation. He emphasized the readiness of the police, army, Revolutionary Guards, and Basij militia, declaring, "Our finger, like the finger of our beloved ones in the army, the Revolutionary Guards, and the Basij, is on the trigger."

The commander's declaration frames protesters not as demonstrators but as "traitors to the homeland," legally equating them to enemy soldiers and justifying the use of deadly force. This statement comes amid heightened regional tensions with the United States and Israel, with the regime appearing to leverage the external "war situation" to justify a severe internal crackdown.

The broadcast was intended to instill fear and preemptively suppress any potential resurgence of dissent. Radan's remarks align with a pattern of senior officials portraying popular protests as part of foreign conspiracies, but their timing, under significant external pressure, amplifies the message that the regime is prepared to shoot.

The integration of police into the internal combat system alongside the army and other security forces signifies a shift from law enforcement to internal warfare, aiming to stifle any organizational attempts before they reach the streets.