Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned anti-government protesters they will face the nation’s “iron fist” if political unrest continues.<\/p>\n
Three days of demonstrations erupted over falling living standards.<\/p>\n
But a Revolutionary Guards commander said the protests had degenerated into people chanting political slogans and burning public property.<\/p>\n
They are the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009. There are reports of two deaths.<\/p>\n
There were calls for the removal or death of Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the cities of Khoramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz.<\/p>\n
Iran’s Islamic Revolutions Guards Corp is a powerful force with ties to the country’s supreme leader, and is dedicated to preserving the country’s Islamic system.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
Iran’s interior minister has also warned the public that protesters will be held accountable.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted.”<\/p>\n
Protests began in the north-eastern city of Mashhad on Thursday and spread to other major cities on Friday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Among the recent events across Iran:<\/p>\n
BBC Persian correspondent Kasra Naji said a common factor in all locations has been protesters’ demand for an end to clerical rule in Iran.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Iranian authorities are blaming anti-revolutionaries and agents of foreign powers for the outbreak.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The US has led international support for the protesters.<\/p>\n
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!”<\/p>\n
Iran’s foreign ministry called earlier comments from Mr Trump and other US officials “opportunistic and deceitful”.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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