The Jan. 10 report said Iranian troops will “firmly defend national interests, strategic infrastructure and state property.”
His army blamed Israel and “terrorist groups” for the protests in Iran.
The threat of military intervention follows similar reports from other Iranian security agencies. This indicates an escalation on the part of the Iranian authorities, WSJ noted.
As the media pointed out, until now only police and security forces have been involved in suppressing protests in Iran.
In Tehran alone, at least 217 participants in mass protests were killed as a result of clashes with Iranian security forces, Time noted, citing an unnamed local doctor.
As the media interlocutor told the media, most of them died from bullet wounds.
Context
Massive anti-government protests in Iran began on December 28, 2025 amid economic problems in the country. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called the protesters “rebels” and called for their suppression.
Clashes occurred between protesters and law enforcement officers, which, according to Reuters, became the bloodiest in the last three years. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, as of January 8, 2026, at least 42 people have died as a result of the demonstrations, including at least four intelligence officers. More than 2,260 people were detained.
On January 2, US President Donald Trump threatened to intervene if peaceful protests in Iran were suppressed.
On January 10, Iran's Prosecutor General threatened the death penalty against protesters in the country.
