The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has asserted that recent protests within the country, which began in late December, were part of an orchestrated plot involving intelligence agencies from ten hostile nations. The Guard accused these agencies of attempting to destabilize Iran through violence, sabotage, and coordinated disinformation campaigns.
In its third statement since the protests erupted, the Revolutionary Guard spoke of a “decisive and targeted response” by what it termed “unknown soldiers of Imam Mahdi” – a reference to security and intelligence services – against “enemy elements” and their associated networks. The statement, released Friday, detailed the arrest and summons of 735 individuals allegedly linked to anti-security networks. Furthermore, approximately 11,000 “vulnerable elements susceptible to exploitation” were reportedly “summoned and guided” as part of efforts to “fortify society and prevent its descent into chaos.”
The Guard also announced the seizure of 743 unlicensed military and hunting weapons, suggesting, according to them, the “armed nature” of certain protest movements. The statement further claimed the identification of 46 individuals allegedly collaborating with foreign intelligence agencies, asserting their “activation and exposure,” without providing further details about the nature of these networks or the accused countries.
These developments coincide with ongoing and widespread internet restrictions. NetBlocks, a network monitoring organization, reported that Iran has entered its third week of international internet disruption. They noted indications of attempts to generate “artificial traffic” to simulate restored connectivity, while actual access to the global network remains limited, hindering independent verification of events within the country.
Conflicting figures regarding casualties have emerged. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), affiliated with the opposition, reported a death toll of 5,002, including 201 security personnel, and 26,752 arrests nationwide.
The situation remains fluid and access to reliable information is severely restricted.
