News Desk: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Saturday reiterated that maintaining law and order is a “red line,” while the country’s armed forces vowed to protect public property and key infrastructure, as the government intensified efforts to suppress the most widespread protests in years.
The warnings came as international pressure mounted, with U.S. President Donald Trump issuing fresh remarks toward Iran’s leadership and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing support for demonstrators. Inside Iran, unrest continued overnight. State media reported that a municipal building in Karaj, west of Tehran, was set ablaze, blaming the incident on protesters. State television also aired funeral scenes of security personnel reportedly killed during clashes in Shiraz, Qom and Hamedan.
What began nearly two weeks ago as demonstrations over soaring prices and economic hardship has evolved into open political dissent, with protesters calling for an end to clerical rule. Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of stirring unrest, while human rights groups say dozens of demonstrators have been killed. Authorities have also maintained widespread internet restrictions.
In a statement broadcast on state television, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that “terrorist elements” had targeted military and police facilities over recent nights, resulting in casualties and damage to property. The Guards stressed that protecting national security and the legacy of the 1979 Islamic Revolution was non-negotiable, warning that continued instability would not be tolerated.
Iran’s regular military, which operates alongside the Revolutionary Guards under the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said it would ensure the protection of national interests, strategic infrastructure and public assets.
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last monarch, has emerged as a prominent voice abroad, urging protesters to escalate their actions. In recent remarks, he called for preparations to take control of city centers and appealed for nationwide strikes in vital sectors, including transportation and energy.
