Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jan 8: Iran’s chief judicial authority, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, has delivered a hardline warning against anyone accused of cooperating with what he termed “hostile forces” amid a growing wave of protests sweeping across the country.
Speaking through state media, Ejei alleged that the unrest was being fuelled by foreign powers, specifically accusing the United States and Israel of orchestrating efforts to destabilise the Islamic Republic. He said recent statements by leaders in Washington and Tel Aviv left “no justification” for street demonstrations that he characterised as riots.
“There will be no tolerance from this point onward for those who assist the enemy or disrupt public calm,” Ejei said, signalling a tougher judicial response to the ongoing unrest.
His remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who warned that Washington would intervene if Iranian authorities “violently kill peaceful protesters”. Trump further stated that the United States was “locked and loaded and ready to go”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed support for the protesters, suggesting that Iranians may be “taking their destiny into their own hands”.
Iran is witnessing its most significant protest movement in three years. The demonstrations initially erupted last month in Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar, where merchants shut their shops to protest the steep fall of the national currency, the rial. The unrest has since spread nationwide, driven by mounting frustration over economic hardship, the impact of Western sanctions, alleged government mismanagement, and long-standing restrictions on civil and political freedoms.
Following Ejei’s warning, Iranian Army chief Major-General Amir Hatami also issued a sharp statement, cautioning against what he described as threatening foreign “rhetoric”. He warned that Iran would respond pre-emptively to any aggression, declaring that the country’s armed forces are “stronger than ever”. “Any mistake by the enemy will be met with a decisive response,” Hatami said.
The protests have reportedly claimed more than 30 lives so far, with thousands of demonstrators arrested. While authorities have not released an official count of civilian deaths, they have confirmed that at least two members of the security forces have been killed and over a dozen injured.
Despite restrictions, footage of demonstrations continues to circulate widely on social media, including videos showing protesters tearing down and destroying flags of the Islamic Republic in various cities, underscoring the depth of public anger.