Tehran [Iran], January 10 (ANI): Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad has issued a stark warning amid escalating nationwide protests, declaring that anyone participating in demonstrations or aiding protesters would be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge under Iranian law that carries the death penalty, according to i24 News.
Broadcast on Iranian state television, Movahedi Azad stated that individuals involved in protests, assisting rioters, or contributing to vandalism and insecurity would face swift legal action. Prosecutors were instructed to act decisively, “without leniency, compassion or indulgence,” in handling those accused of betraying the nation or facilitating foreign domination.
Acts of vandalism targeting public property are now classified as moharebeh—“waging war against God”—under Iran’s penal code, one of the country’s gravest charges, punishable by execution. The protests, initially sparked by rising living costs, have evolved into a nationwide anti-government movement calling for the end of the Islamic Republic, which has ruled Iran since 1979. Demonstrations have entered their thirteenth day, spreading to over 100 cities across all 31 provinces. Authorities have responded with arrests, restrictions, and school closures in affected areas, including the central province of Isfahan, where classes will be held remotely.
International reactions have been swift. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the protesters, posting on X: “The United States supports the brave people of Iran.” President Donald Trump said the situation is being monitored closely and warned of consequences if authorities use lethal force. “If they start killing people as they have in the past, we will get involved. We will be hitting them very hard where it hurts, and that doesn’t mean boots on the ground,” Trump said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also voiced support, stating, “Tehran’s streets, and cities around the world, echo with the footsteps of Iranian women and men demanding freedom… Europe stands fully behind them.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, in exile since 1979, urged intensified civil resistance. He called on workers in key economic sectors—including transportation, oil, gas, and energy—to strike and encouraged citizens to reclaim central areas of Tehran. Pahlavi also appealed to members of Iran’s security forces to slow enforcement and disrupt what he called the “machine of suppression.”
Western nations have expressed further concern. In a joint statement, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, and the European Union praised the courage of Iranian citizens and condemned violent crackdowns. They urged the Iranian government to end aggressive measures against protesters and uphold citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
As protests continue, the situation in Iran remains highly volatile, with authorities signalling a hardline response amid intensifying international scrutiny. (ANI)
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