Anti-Government Protests in Iran Kill Over 100 Security Personnel

More than 100 members of Iran’s security forces have been killed during ongoing anti-government protests, according to state and semi-official media, as demonstrations intensify amid a deepening economic crisis and international sanctions. At the same time, Iran’s parliamentary speaker has warned the United States and Israel of retaliation if Iran is attacked.

Iranian state television said that at least 30 police and security personnel were killed in Isfahan province alone. The commander of a special law enforcement unit reported that eight more security members were killed on 8 and 9 January during operations to suppress what authorities described as “riots” in several cities.

The semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed that a total of 109 security personnel have died nationwide since the protests began. Separately, the Iranian Red Crescent reported that one of its members was killed after its relief facility was attacked in Gorgan, the capital of Golestan province.

According to Al Jazeera, thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest against soaring inflation and rising prices of basic goods. Authorities have stepped up efforts to quell what they describe as the largest wave of unrest in recent years. Iran’s Interior Ministry has said the situation is gradually coming under control.

However, Iran’s Attorney General warned that individuals involved in violent acts could face capital punishment, further raising concerns among rights groups.

Speaking in parliament on Sunday, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged Washington not to “miscalculate.” A former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Ghalibaf said that if Iran were attacked, Israel and all U.S. military bases and vessels in the region would be considered legitimate targets.

Al Jazeera’s Tehran correspondent Touhid Asadi reported that the remarks marked a new escalation in rhetoric. During the parliamentary session, several lawmakers were seen chanting slogans such as “Death to America.”

Meanwhile, internet monitoring group NetBlocks said Iran has been under a nationwide internet shutdown for more than 60 hours. The group warned that the censorship poses a direct threat to public safety and welfare and comes at a critical moment for the country’s future.