Amid the ongoing protests in Iran, the government’s tone has become more aggressive. Iranian security chief and former parliament speaker Ali Larijani has stated clearly that Iran is not currently in a state of peace or ceasefire, but in a state of direct war. Larijani said, “This is not a normal protest. We are in the middle of a war, and there is no room for any leniency.”
He described the protesters who took to the streets as a “quasi-terrorist urban force” and alleged that the movement was not spontaneous but sponsored by external forces. Larijani directly accused Israel of inciting and fueling the rebellion. This statement by the Iranian leadership comes at a time when protests against the economic crisis, inflation, unemployment, and social restrictions are intensifying in the country. The government has previously described these movements as a “foreign conspiracy,” but now for the first time it has openly described them as a war-like threat.
Larijani’s statement clearly indicates that Tehran is preparing for confrontation rather than calming the situation. Security agencies have been instructed to take more stringent action, raising fears of further intensification of repression in the coming days. Experts believe that the regime’s use of the term “war” indicates that the Iranian leadership no longer views the protests as a political disagreement, but as a direct threat to national security. This could further escalate the situation within the country.