Simultaneously with the continuation of the war and the bombardment of Iranian cities, the Commander-in-Chief of the Police announced in a television program the readiness of police forces for armed suppression against protesters. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Intelligence has also reported the arrest of dozens of people and the intensification of security measures.
Iran Human Rights Society, Wednesday, March 11, 2026 – While the country is engaged in war and military attacks, the security officials of the ruling dictatorship speak of readiness for the possible suppression of popular protests. The recent statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Police regarding the police forces being “finger on the trigger” in the event of street protests, along with the announcement of new arrests by the Ministry of Intelligence, indicate that the security atmosphere inside the country has intensified significantly amid the war.
Threat of Armed Suppression Against Protesters
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Ahmadreza Radan, Commander-in-Chief of the Police, spoke in a live television program about the possibility of street protests forming in the future and announced the readiness of police forces for armed suppression against protesters.
According to the video released from this program, Radan stated that in the event of people’s presence in the streets, the police forces will be “finger on the trigger.” He also emphasized that the police forces will not consider the protesters as “protesters” and will treat them as “enemies.”
These statements were made at a time when the country is engaged in war and military attacks, and many citizens in various cities are facing insecurity caused by bombardments. In such conditions, the threat of armed suppression of protests has increased concerns about the human rights situation of citizens in Iran.
Reminder of the Bloody Suppression of the Dey Protests
The police commander’s statements are being made while only a few months have passed since the widespread protests of Dey month in Iran; protests that faced severe repression by security and police forces.
According to reports published by human rights sources and independent media, during the suppression of those protests, more than 36,000 protesters were killed in various cities of Iran. This event has been described as one of the bloodiest periods of protest suppression in recent years.
Now, in conditions where the country is engaged in war, many observers believe that the fresh threats from security officials indicate that the regime is still prepared for severe suppression of any popular protest.
Announcement of Arrests by the Ministry of Intelligence
Simultaneously with these threats, the Ministry of Intelligence has also announced that it has arrested at least 30 people in recent days.
According to the report published in government media, these individuals have been arrested on charges described as “espionage for America and Israel.” However, in these reports, no information has been published about the identity of the arrestees or the location of their detention.
The Ministry of Intelligence had previously warned in a statement against the publication of images and information from attack sites and military targets in wartime conditions and threatened that it would deal with such actions “with severity.”
Observers say that such positions indicate the intensification of the security atmosphere in the country during wartime; an atmosphere that can create more restrictions for citizens and the media.
People Caught Between War and Repression
While citizens in many cities of Iran are facing the consequences of war and the danger of bombardment, the intensification of security threats has also created new concerns.
Many citizens say that in conditions where people should be safe from the danger of military attacks, the security atmosphere and internal threats have also added to their worries. According to some observers, the people of Iran are now in a position where they are simultaneously facing the consequences of war and internal security pressures.
This situation has caused many citizens to feel that even under the shadow of war and bombardment, they are not safe from government pressures and threats.
Human Rights Violations in Wartime Conditions
The reported situation in Iran during wartime conditions can be in conflict with fundamental principles of human rights.
- Violation of the right to life – Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Threatening to use weapons against protesters can put citizens’ lives at risk.
- Violation of the right to freedom of expression and assembly – Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Threatening armed suppression of protests can prevent citizens from exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
- Violation of the right to personal security – Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Detaining individuals without announcing their identity and place of detention can be contrary to human rights standards.
With the continuation of the war and the intensification of the security atmosphere inside the country, concerns about the human rights situation of citizens and the possibility of increased repression in Iran continue to rise.
See also the below articles:
- War and a Society Under Pressure: Iranians Caught Between Bombardment, Poverty, and Repression
- Violence Against Female Political Prisoners in Iran Through Denial of Medical Treatment
Follow Iran Human Rights Society on social networks:
Telegram /Twitter /Instagram / YouTube / Facebook
Join Iran Human Rights Society on Twitter
Discussion about this post