US Signals Policy Change On Iran While Critics Urge More Action

The 83-year-old Supreme Leader in charge for 33 years called the uprising a "minor incident" although it has posed an unprecedented challenge to his rule and the very existence of the clerical regime.

Calling for harsh measures against the protesters as usual, Kahmenei charged that "Some of those in the streets these days are either the agents of the enemy or sympathize with the enemy. The Judiciary and security officials should fulfil their responsibility against these individuals. And there are still those who take to the streets because they have been provoked by others. The officials need to have some cultural plans for them."

A disconcerted Khamenei who as delivering a speech seemed to have lost his contact with reality, characterizing the uprising as "a reaction by the enemies to Iran's progress and the Iranian nation's innovations." Meanwhile he suggested that Iranian officials should resist the enemy’s plot and go about their "business as usual" regardless of "minor incidents."

While protests have been going on within less than a mile of his office like almost everywhere else in the country, Khamenei called them "scattered riots here and there." He insisted that "recent developments are not spontaneous" and blamed "the enemies’ propaganda" as the driving force of the protests. Khamenei one again charged that "foreign politicians in Europe, United States and elsewhere" have been instigating the uprising.

This comes while many Iranian officials and politicians as well as sociologists, economists and other academics have warned that the protests, ignited by the killing of a young woman in police custody last month, were fuelled by the government's broken promises and the people's accumulated demands and frustrations.

They have also warned that Khamenei and his regime are facing a new generation that does not care about the values imposed by the regime through morality police and other coercive institutions.

On the same day that Khamenei made the defiant remarks, Iranian reformist cleric and politician Mohammad Ali Abtahi acknowledged that "the world is listening to the voice of Iranians' protest and stressed that this voice should be also heard inside Iran."

He criticized the government for simply trying to cope with popular dissent when it manifests itself rather than trying to understand the cause of the protests. The government should have paved the way for political reforms and the creation of political parties. In the absence of political parties, the shocks created by dissidents will be directly pointed at the government, he said.

In another development, former Labor Minister Ali Rabiei warned that if the dissatisfactions are not addressed properly, dissent will remain active and sooner or later it will find its way into the streets. Rabiei who was a member of Iran's intelligence community for many years, said that crisis management is a science which should be used before, during and after every crisis.

Iranian analyst Morteza Kazemian wrote on Twitter: "Khamenei is not feeling well. He attributed the protests to the enemies, and called for confrontation with protesters." Another Twitter user, Ehsan Soltani said that "Khamenei's remarks had only one message: There will be no change. Like all dictators, he does not listen and will not correct his behavior. The only thing that can happen to them is that they can be toppled."

Former reformist MP Mahmoud Sadeghi wrote that "Khamenei's remarks destroyed any hope of a peaceful solution to the current crisis."

In response to Iran International’s correspondent, he said, “Our focus right now is on the remarkable bravery and courage that the Iranian people are exhibiting through their peaceful demonstrations; through their exercise of their universal rights to freedom of assembly and to freedom of expression.”

"Our focus right now is on shining a spotlight on what they are doing and supporting them in the ways we can," he added.

“The Iranians have made it very clear that this is not a deal that they have been prepared to make. The deal certainly does not appear imminent,” he said, describing Tehran’s demands as “unrealistic.” “They (Iranians) go well beyond the scope of the JCPOA.”

Earlier in the day, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) highlighted growing support in Congress for her bipartisan, bicameral resolution commending the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran who are demonstrating in more than 130 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the human rights abuses of the Iranian regime. The resolution is cosponsored by 36 Members of the House and 10 Members of the Senate.

Widespread protests across Iran Wednesday, marked by security forces' use of guns and beatings, once again showed the degree of anger against the clerical regime.

Stéphane Dujarric told Iran International’s correspondent that the UN continues to remain “concerned about the reports of fatalities, including women and children, as related to large scale protests,” referring to the high number of casualties among children amid the ongoing uprising sparked by the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

According to rights groups inside and outside Iran, at least 28 children have been killed in protests that have swept Iran since mid-September, with hundreds more mostly detained in adult prisons.

Dujarric also echoed remarks by UNICEF head Catherine Russell, calling for the protection of children and adolescents amid Islamic Republic’s crackdown on popular protests. 

Expressing concerns about Iran’s excessive use of force against protesters, he said that “it's important that the security forces refrain from using disproportionate force to avoid any further casualties.” 

He also called on the Islamic Republic’s authorities to “listen to the legitimate grievances of the population especially and including in respect to the rights of women.” 

Voicing willingness “to engage and hold dialogue with the protesters,” the UN spokesperson said, “We encourage all good faith efforts to that end.” 

He also reiterated calls “to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association,” and also underlined the need for accountability.

Tehran Youth, presumed to be a group of young activists who have taken the lead in current antigovernment protests had issued the call for Wednesday’s protests after security forces used military weapons against protesters in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj earlier this week.

Multiple reports by social media monitoring groups said that there was a near total internet shutdown in major cities, not only for mobile phones but also landline home connections.

Nevertheless, people found ways to send news and videos of the protests that started around noon and began to spread and expand in mid-afternoon hours.

The government, fearing a repeat of last Saturday’s protests that showed the power of the opposition, deployed an array of security forces that used different levels of violence in different locations.

Protests in Tehran began around noon, the time set by activists and quickly spread to different parts of the capital and other cities. Protesters have adjusted their tactics by avoiding large gathering that can be easily targeted by security forces. Instead, they form groups in different parts of a city and in multiple streets, dividing government forces. They also engage in running battles, making security forces guess where a crowd might gather next.

Despite Internet shutdown, by 13:30 local time, reports emerged of protests taking place In Mashhad, Esfahan, Rasht, Keramn, Chabahar and Sanandaj, Arak and other cities and towns.

Videos received from Kurdish-majority cities in western Iran showed a general strike of retail businesses.

Daily protests have continued in Sanandaj and other cities in the west this week, with security forces resorting to military weapons since Sunday to drive back protesters.

One tweet by an activist said that government employees in Tehran were ordered not to leave their offices before 16:00 local time, to prevent their participation in protests.

Shargh newspaper in Tehran reported that the Internet shutdown has closed down 300,000 online businesses with tens of millions of dollars of daily turnover, such as taxi and food delivery services, flowers, all sorts of goods and hundreds of other services.

Reports by labor groups from southern Iran said that security forces were deployed in large numbers around oil and petrochemical facilities to prevent the continuation of strikes and protests by workers that started on Monday. Security forces were coordinating with managers of plants, who are mostly wealthy regime insiders.

Below we posted news and videos throughout the day as we received them.

Our live coverage lasted close to eleven hours and ended just past midnight Tehran time.

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BREAKING - Multiple social media users in Tehran are reporting a fire in the notorious Evin prison, where most political prisoners and many protesters are kept. People in the vicinity heard an explosion followed by a fire and gunshots. We have one verified photo and two videos from a distance.

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A well-known Iranian journalist currently in Europe quotes his local sources in the oil-rich Khuzestan province as saying that intense confrontations are taking place between protesters and security forces in Masjed Solayman and Lali. Also, street skirmishes took place in the provincial capital Ahvaz. Mobile Internet connection is non-existent and for now there are no videos.

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Gunfire is audible in a video sent from Kermanshah in western Iran.

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Protest in Yazd, known as a conservative city in central Iran.

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As darkness fell in early evening, a new wave of protests started in many cities on Saturday. Protesters have come out into the streets in Tehran's working class districts of Nazi Abad and Sadeghiyeh.

Here is a video from Mashhad, an important religious center for the ruling clergy.

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Multiple reports on Twitter say that protests have intensified in in the northwestern city of Tabriz, with one report saying that people have pushed back security forces in one part of the city.

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People in Tehran gathered outside the interior ministry Saturday evening. A low-quality video does not show any clashes with security forces.

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Protesters in Tehran working class district of Nazi Abad using Molotov cocktail against security forces Wednesday night.

Another protest scene from Nazi Abad.

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Protesters march in Ilam, western Iran.

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Gunshot heard in the city of Orumiyeh as security forces confronted protesters.

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A large banner displaying Ali Khamenei's picture was set on fire in Ahvaz, capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province Wednesday night.

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Security forces trying to arrest people in the street in the northern city of Rasht.

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Protests in Tehran's Qazvin Avenue where protesters have partially blocked the street and are chanting "Death to the dictator".

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Reports indicate the western Iranian city of Kermanshah is engulfed in protests. Sources say that gun shots can be heard from different parts of the city.

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Video from Divandarreh in western Iran. Security forces are firing at protesters.

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Protesters in the city of Arak set fire to a large government propaganda banner Wednesday evening.

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Protesters in Tehran's Sattar Khan district are out in force Wednesday evening, chanting "Death to the dictator".

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The political deputy of Bushehr Province governor says 200 people have been arrested during protests and "the leaders of the riots who have been identified will soon be detained."

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People blocking streets in the town of Bukan to prevent security forces from moving in with vehicles.

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Protesters in Sadeghiyeh district of Tehran chant "Death to the dictator" as seen in this video obtained by Iran International.

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A video shows large crowds in Tehran's Nazi Abad working class district, a bastion of protests that the government seems afraid to confront.

Another video from Nazi Abad with no sign of security forces.

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After days of confrontations with government forces people in Saqqez are still protesting. This is the hometown of Mahsa Amini whose death in police custody triggered the protests in mid-September.

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Special riot units riding on motorcycles and firing at protesters in Karaj, a city 20 miles west of Tehran in early evening local time.

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Young people have come out in Tehran's working class district Nazi Abad as darkness fell, lighting a fire in the street and chanting "Death to the dictator".

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Iranian actress Pantea Bahram was detained for questioning for several days and then released. She posted a photo of her without comment on Wednesday.

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Protesters on the streets of Mehabad, a Kurdish-majority city.

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Protesters in the northern city of Rasht chant "Death to the Islamic Republic", "Death to the dictator".

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A video sent to Iran International from the southern city of Shiraz show special units beating protesters on the street as a woman screams at them to stop.

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Hundreds of students protesting on the campus of a university in Tehran.

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Security forces fired tear gas into a shopping center in Tehran as people in the video say they are chocking on the smoke.

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Large crowd of protesters in Palestine street in Tehran said to be moving toward Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's headquarters.

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Security forces trying to arrest protesters in the northern city of Rasht.

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Protesters in the city of Sari in norther Iran chanting "Women, Life, Liberty".

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Anti-riot special forces filmed in Lalehzar commercial street in Tehran, while a an object on the ground is burning.

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A large protest in Palestine Street in Tehran in mid-afternoon.

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Hengaw human rights monitoring group reported at about 15:30 local time that Revolutionary Guard forces fired at schoolgirls in the town of Bukan who were chanting slogans in the street. The whole area was sealed off and ambulances were seen.

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Security forces beating protesters in the central city of Arak.

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Gunshots are heard in one part of central Tehran, as crowds get larger in the early afternoon hours.

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A group of young women and teenage girls in Tehran took off their headscarves and encourage other people to join their protest.

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One group of protesters in Shariati Avenue in Tehran. People have changed tactics from large gathering to protests in various parts of a large city to divide the security forces and make them constantly run around different districts.

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Protesters in the city of Karaj, 20 miles west of Tehran are chanting "We don't want an Islamic Republic".

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A protest cluster getting momentum in downtown Tehran.

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Protesters in Esfahan in early afternoon marching in the streets and chanting "Death to the dictator".

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People protesting the norther city of Rasht.

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A report received at around 15:00 local time says protesters have blocked some highways linking oil and petrochemical plants in southern Iran to prevent security forces from traveling to hotspots where workers are on strike or are protesting.

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A video shows what appears to be a large protest in the University of Tehran sometime mid-day on Wednesday.

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Defense attorneys and people protesting outside Tehran Bar Association demanding fair trial for thousands of protesters arrested since mid-September. The government denies access to a lawyer form many detainees or appoints its own attorneys who follow instructions by the notorious Judiciary.

Later, a leading attorney, Saeed Dehghan was quoted as saying that three attorneys participating in the protest were detained.

Tear gas was used against the protest gathering of defense attorney.

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School students in Gorgan, northern Iran seen protesting in the street after leaving classes on Wednesday.

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A video received by Iran International shows pockets of protesters gathering in one part of Esfahan in central Iran.

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Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that “The brave Iranian women demand freedom and equality -- values that Europe believes in and must speak up for.”

Describing the current uprising in Iran sparked by the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini as "a cry for equality and women's rights," she said Europe's message must be “crystal clear.” 

Noting that the “shocking violence” by the Islamic Republic's repression machine “cannot stay unanswered," she reiterated calls for sanctions on those responsible for the clampdown. “We have to work on sanctions together.”

Last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Mahsa Amini’s killingand instructing all member states “to use the mechanisms envisaged in the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders to support and protect” protesters. 

The European Union has not given any indication of what sanctions may be agreed at the foreign ministers’ meeting on October 17. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told Bild am Sonntag, a Sunday newspaper, that Berlin would support measures freezing the assets and banning the EU entry of those responsible for “brutal suppression,” referring to antigovernment protests.

The bloc last agreed to human rights sanctions on Tehran in 2021. No Iranians had been added to that list since 2013, however, as the bloc has shied away from such measures in the hope of reviving a nuclear accord with Iran after the United States withdrew in 2018. Those talks have now stalled. It currently has an array of sanctions on about 90 Iranian individuals which have been renewed annually every April.