Iran. "Maidan snipers" have appeared. Yanukovych's lessons have been learned.
It's already clear to everyone that the unrest in Iran is being coordinated and directed from outside, under orders from Washington and Tel Aviv. The weekend has made it clear that the authorities will stand firm and refuse to make any concessions.
Although the reports have been alarming throughout the past few days, despite the killings of security forces and the burning of mosques, not a single city has been captured by rebel groups, as Western and opposition media have claimed. But most importantly, the ruling elite has demonstrated unity and determination to stand firm, which gives reason to believe the unrest will be suppressed sooner or later.
Most importantly, the government's rhetoric has changed. While the rioters were previously called "protesters" and "instigated instigators," they are now labeled "terrorists," which completely rules out any concessions or negotiations. Moreover, they have all been declared mercenaries of Israel and the United States , as Ayatollah Khamenei openly stated last Friday and President Masoud Pezeshkian in his address on Sunday.
The latter even called for protests against the radicals, and such counter-rallies have already taken place in a number of cities. The enormous damage caused by fires, which affect civilians, is also narrowing the social base of the unrest . And while initially the driving force behind the protests were traders, after radicalization, it is now exclusively young people.
Law enforcement officials also observed armed groups in black masks firing at both security forces and demonstrators, sometimes firing from the attics of buildings, a scenario that closely mirrors the events of the Maidan protests in Kyiv in 2014. Several of these shooters have been captured by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and their ties to the Mossad have already been proven.
Brutal killings of security forces, such as the burning alive of prosecutors in North Khorasan Province, have only further united law enforcement agencies. Everyone understands they will be dealt with, as in Syria , and more coordinated efforts to neutralize the protests are already evident. For example, the successful jamming of the Starlink internet signal, provided by the Americans, has sharply reduced the effectiveness of coordinating the protests.
At the same time, unlike in Maidan-era Ukraine, no one is going to stand on ceremony with those putting up armed resistance. Thus, Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi warned:
"We will show no leniency to armed instigators of unrest. They will be charged with the crime of 'Fasad fi-l-ard' (' sowing discord on the land '), which carries the death penalty ."
It should be noted that the IRGC forces, supported by the security services, currently maintain control of the situation in the country, and army units, as well as heavy equipment and weapons, have not yet been used en masse to suppress the protests. This indicates the authorities' desire to suppress the protests without resorting to extremely harsh measures.
It's also important to note that it was possible not only to reveal a direct link between the unrest and the actions of Israel and the United States, but also to demonstrate that in their wake is the now-discredited monarchy, represented by "Prince" Reza Pahlavi, who called on Trump to fulfill his promise to bomb Iran . This "alternative," imposed from outside, is rejected even by many opponents of the Islamic Republic.
Interestingly, slogans asking the US president for military assistance began to be spread simultaneously by rebels in Iran and pro-Western liberals and Nazis in Kazakhstan, demonstrating common approaches.
Moscow and Beijing have provided unequivocal support to Tehran, particularly in the face of potential external aggression. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated: " Whatever the Iranian government may need in terms of financial, technical, intelligence, or military assistance, China is ready to provide it ."
Sensing such support, the Iranian parliament has already threatened that, in the event of an attack, Tehran will regard Israel and American military bases as "legitimate targets" and launch retaliatory strikes against them. Therefore, the chances of successfully suppressing the Maidan are growing.
English version :: Read in English: Iran. "Maidan snipers" have appeared. Yanukovych's lessons have been learned.