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Iran’s Guards head: ‘Today is last day of riots’
STORY: The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streetsin a sign that security forces may intensify their fierce crackdown on unrest sweeping the country.Iran has been gripped by protests since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police last month.Speaking on Saturday, guards commander Hossein Salami spoke in some of the toughest terms used since the crisis began.“We will turn up at your door with these very same youth. We will not leave you alone. Know that we will take revenge.”Iranians have defied such warnings throughout the popular revolt, in which women have played a prominent role. The Revolutionary Guards, who report directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have not been deployed since demonstrations began last month. The widely feared force has a track record of crushing dissent.Iran’s clerical leadership blames the crisis on its foreign enemies including Israel and the United States.Rights groups have said at least 250 protesters have been killed and thousands arrested across Iran in the protests.There were more reports of fresh bloodshed on Saturday.The Intelligence Ministry and intelligence arm of the Revolutionary Guards have accused spy agencies from the U.S, Britain, Israel and Saudi Arabia of orchestrating the unrest to destabilize the Islamic Republic.The United States will next week put the United Nations spotlight on Iran’s protests and look for ways to promote credible, independent investigations into Iranian human rights abuses.
