The ongoing protests in Iran, which began at the start of the new year, persist despite a tightening of state control and increasingly inflammatory rhetoric. Iranian state media have begun to report on the unrest, but accompany their coverage with accusations against Israel and the United States, framing the demonstrations as externally orchestrated acts of terrorism.
A report from “Press TV” Iran’s foreign television broadcaster, detailed the purported dismantling of “several armed terrorist cells” and the arrest of individuals described as “foreign actors”. These actions, the report claims, are a response to a “wave of foreign-backed unrest” resulting in the deaths of multiple police officers. This narrative serves to delegitimize the protests and deflect blame from internal economic and political grievances.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly denounced the demonstrators as a “band of vandals” purportedly seeking to appease US President Donald Trump. Trump himself recently issued a veiled threat, warning of potentially forceful intervention should Iranian security forces harm protestors. This statement, while drawing criticism for its potential to escalate tensions, arguably strengthens the regime’s argument that the protests are a foreign plot.
The German government has adopted a cautious stance. While declining to comment directly on Trump’s pronouncements, the Foreign Office has reiterated existing travel warnings and recommendations for German citizens to leave Iran. A spokesperson confirmed that the German embassy in Tehran remains reachable, despite intermittent disruptions to internet and telephone connectivity across various regions. These connectivity restrictions highlight the Iranian government’s deliberate attempt to suppress information and limit the protests’ reach.
The initial spark for the demonstrations, ignited in Tehran on December 28th, was the collapse of the Iranian currency, swiftly followed by widespread public discontent over the struggling economy and broader political restrictions. Human rights organizations report that the protests have since expanded to encompass dozens of cities, demonstrating a potentially deeper and more widespread resentment within the Iranian population. Critically, the absence of independent media reporting from within the country severely limits the ability to fully ascertain the scale and nature of the unrest.
The formation of a federal crisis response team in Germany underscores the seriousness with which the situation is being viewed, suggesting concerns about regional stability and the potential for further escalation. The Iranian government’s forceful response, combined with the heightened rhetoric from Washington, raises significant questions about the future trajectory of the protests and the potential for broader conflict.