Country’s top judge says there will be ‘no leniency’ for growing demonstrations, while President Masoud Pezeshkian orders security forces not to crack down on unarmed protesters.
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s military chief warned Wednesday that Iran will not stand by and allow itself to be threatened by outside powers, after the United States and Israel backed anti-government protests. “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation a threat and will not tolerate its continuation without responding,” General Amir Hatami said, according to the Fars news agency.
Hatami, commander of the Iranian army but not Iran’s most senior officer, warned that “if the enemy makes a mistake,” Iran’s response would be more robust than during last June’s 12-day war with Israel. In recent days, US President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran if demonstrators were killed, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for the protests. Iran’s top judge also warned protesters on Wednesday there would be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic,” while accusing Israel and the US of pursuing hybrid methods to disrupt the country.
“Following announcements by Israel and the US president, there is no excuse for those coming to the streets for riots and unrest,” Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran’s judiciary, was quoted as saying by state media. “From now on, there will be no leniency for whoever helps the enemy against the Islamic Republic and the calm of the people,” Ejei said. Tempering the harsh rhetoric from those officials, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered security forces not to crack down on protests. (Read More)
