Iran Guards Set 'Red Line' on Security Amid Unrest Crackdown

Select Language:

Pro-government demonstrators were seen chanting slogans in Ardabil, located in northwest Iran, as depicted in the photo from AFP. The Iranian military has stated that it will safeguard public property and maintain order. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio expressed support for “the brave people of Iran,” while human rights organizations have recorded at least 65 deaths and approximately 2,500 arrests during the recent protests.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a warning Saturday that protecting security is a “red line,” with the military committing to defend public property amid efforts to suppress the widespread unrest, which marks the most significant in years. These statements followed a new warning from President Donald Trump to Iran’s leadership on Friday and Rubio’s declaration of support for Iranian protesters over the weekend.

Violence continued overnight, with state media reporting a municipal building set ablaze in Karaj, west of Tehran, blaming “rioters.” State television broadcast footage from funeral services for security personnel killed in protests across Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan.

Over the past two weeks, protests have erupted across much of Iran, initially driven by soaring inflation but quickly evolving into a broader political movement demanding an end to clerical rule. Authorities have accused the U.S. and Israel of inciting the unrest, while human rights groups have documented dozens of protesters killed.

The government has continued to enforce an internet blackout. A witness in western Iran, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, reported that Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) forces were deployed and firing live rounds in the area.

In a public statement, the IRGC accused “terrorists” of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the last two nights, resulting in multiple casualties and property damage. The forces emphasized that protecting the achievements of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and maintaining security are “red lines,” indicating that further unrest is unacceptable.

The military, which reports separately from the IRGC but is also under the command of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced it would take measures to “protect and safeguard national interests, vital infrastructure, and public property.”