Iran’s interior minister has warned security forces from now on will confront protesters who gather in the streets. For a second day running tens of thousands of Iranians angry with a hike in gasoline prices flooded streets in dozens of cities, with security forces attacking protesters in some locations.
Andolreza Rahmani Fazli said that until now authorities showed tolerance toward protesters, adding, “We have given the necessary warnings and we expected that this issue would be settled by people expressing their opinion and protest, but a small group misused this public atmosphere creating intimidation, fear discomfort and suffering for the people”.
Rahmani Fazli stressed, “Until now we have shown tolerance toward these individuals…but today a really small number engaged in activities in some cities that we decided if this issue continues, despite self-control, police and security forces will discharge their duty.”
The interior minister’s remarks about “tolerance” contradicts unofficial reports that at least ten people have been killed in the protests.
The Islamic republic has shown during past protests in 2009, 2017 and 2018 that it is ready to use violence and killing demonstrators to end any public opposition to its policies.
