Khaberni - The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said today, Saturday, that maintaining security is considered a "red line", confirming the army's commitment to protect public property, at a time when the religious institution is intensifying its efforts to contain and suppress the largest wave of protests Iran has seen in years.
The statement of the Revolutionary Guard and the army came after a new warning issued by US President Donald Trump to the leaders of Iran, and a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, today, Saturday, affirming that "the United States supports the brave Iranian people".
In the meantime, disturbances continued during the night hours, as official media reported the setting fire to a municipal building in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, blaming "rioters" for the incident.
The official television broadcasted scenes of the funerals of security forces members, who were said to have been killed during the protests in the cities of Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan.
The intensity of the largest anti-government demonstrations, which have shaken Iran in recent years, escalated on Friday, increasing fears of a rise in the death toll as authorities try to suppress the protests.
Undermining security
According to local sources in western Iran, the Revolutionary Guards opened fire after deploying in the areas witnessing disturbances.
In a statement broadcasted by official television, the Revolutionary Guard accused those they described as "terrorists" of targeting military and security bases during the past two nights, resulting, according to the statement, in the deaths of a number of civilians and security personnel, as well as setting fire to public and private properties.
The statement emphasized that preserving the achievements of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and maintaining security are considered "red lines", affirming that the continuation of the current situation is "unacceptable".
The Iranian army operates organizationally separate from the Revolutionary Guard but is subject to the command of the Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.
The army, in a separate statement, confirmed that it "will protect and preserve the national interests and the strategic infrastructure of the country and public property".
Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah residing in the United States, called today, Saturday, for the demonstrators in Iran to "prepare to take control" of city centers, on the 14th day of the protest movement that the country is witnessing, which started against the backdrop of deteriorating living conditions.
US President Donald Trump issued a new warning, saying: "It is better not to start shooting, because we will shoot too", adding "I just hope the demonstrators in Iran are safe, as it is a very dangerous place at the current time".
A doctor in northwest Iran said that since yesterday, Friday, hospitals have received a large number of injured protesters, some of whom were severely beaten. One hospital reported receiving at least 20 live ammunition injuries, with 5 of them dying subsequently.
The public relations office of the Revolutionary Guard announced the deaths of 3 members of the "Basij" and the injury of 5 others during clashes in the city of Jash Saran. Another security member was also stabbed to death in the city of Hamedan, in addition to the death of the son of the late officer Brigadier Nur Ali Shushtari in the city of Mashhad.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency "HRANA" reported that it documented the deaths of 65 people until, yesterday, Friday, including 50 protesters and 15 security personnel, while the "Hengaw" human rights organization mentioned that more than 2500 people were arrested during the past two weeks.
