Iran's Top Cop Reveals Demonstrators Opposed to the Regime Are Dealt with as 'Adversaries

Iranian security forces deployed tear gas to break up a protest at the Tehran bazaar on January 6, 2026, as demonstrators chanted slogans against the country's clerical authorities, according to reports from rights groups and social media images.

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This incident occurred amidst the Islamic republic's most severe wave of protests since the 2022-2023 nationwide rallies, which were sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women.

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Iran's top police officer, Ahmad-Reza Radan, warned that protesters who support Tehran's foes will be treated as enemies, as fears grow that mass anti-government rallies could reignite amid the Middle East war.

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Radan stated, "If anyone comes forward in line with the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer see them as merely a protester, we will see them as an enemy," in comments aired by state broadcaster IRIB late on Tuesday.

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He added, "And we will do to them what we do to an enemy, we will deal with them in the same way we deal with enemies," and noted that all forces are ready to defend their revolution with their "hands on the trigger".

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Radan's warning follows the government's crackdown on anti-government protests in January, which were sparked by economic grievances in the sanctions-hit country and deemed "riots" by the authorities.

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The Iranian authorities have acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths in the unrest, including members of the security forces and bystanders, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" fuelled by Iran's enemies.

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In contrast, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded more than 7,000 killings in the crackdown, with the vast majority being protesters, though the actual toll may be far higher.

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According to HRANA, more than 50,000 people have been arrested in the crackdown.

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US President Donald Trump initially supported the protesters, threatening to intervene on their behalf as authorities launched a deadly crackdown, but later shifted his focus to Iran's nuclear programme.

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On February 28, Washington launched strikes with Israel on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes by Tehran against Israel and US bases across the Gulf region.