Are Iranian protesters about to face-off against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard? According to Roozarooz, an Iranian news agency, Iranian military forces have assumed security measures in Tehran, the country’s capital.
The news was translated by Wall Street Journal reporter Farnaz Fassihi.
“#IRGC announced it is taking charge of #Tehran security. Iron fist is out,” tweeted Fassihi.
#IRGC announced it is taking charge of #Tehran security. Iron fist is out. #IranProtests #Iran #تظاهرات_سراسری https://t.co/NWXu99aWdr
— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) January 1, 2018
Foreign affairs firm Strategic Sentinel confirmed the report.
“The IRGC, a branch of Iran’s Armed Forces, will soon take total control of security within the capital city of #Tehran as protests continue throughout the country.”
The IRGC, a branch of Iran's Armed Forces, will soon take total control of security within the capital city of #Tehran as protests continue throughout the country. #Iranprotests https://t.co/eHma8GXqsz
— Sentinel (@StratSentinel) January 1, 2018
#BREAKING: #IRGC announced it is taking charge of #Tehran security due to the protests – @Roozarooznews pic.twitter.com/2FrzxfgRyz
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) January 1, 2018
هماهنگی برای ورود بسیج به برخی شهرستانها
سردار رمضانشریف، سخنگوی سپاه:
قرارگاه ثارالله مسئول برقراری امنیت در تهران است.
اوضاع تحت کنترل است. نیاز به ورود #سپاه نبود.
برخی از شهرستانها خواستار ورود #بسیج بودند که هماهنگیهای لازم صورت گرفت./ اعتمادآنلاین pic.twitter.com/qMeeJx81wT— روزآروز (@Roozarooznews) January 1, 2018
Amid the development, protesters continue to flood the streets of Tehran.
#Tehran uprising tonight Enghelab (revolution) square people are chanting: 'Guns, tanks, explosives do not work any more and mullahs must get lost' and 'shame on you Khamenei, leave our country alone' #IranProtests #FreeIran pic.twitter.com/wX5lBBLcqa
— Hossein Abedini (@HoAbedini) December 31, 2017
#Update114– Iran, 40 minuets ago another part of #Tehran. People want to gather at revolution Square.
Chanting” we want Downfall of the Akhund’s Regime”.#IranProtests #تظاهرات_سراسري pic.twitter.com/EvDsGYqZmT— Raman Ghavami (@Raman_Ghavami) January 1, 2018
#IranProtests: Fifth Day of People's Uprising Against the Regime, #Tehran, January 1, 2018 https://t.co/6XEUwQdhr3 #RegimeChange #IranianProtests #FreeIran pic.twitter.com/929tcMcX1i
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 1, 2018
In October, the Trump administration designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.
“I am authorizing the Treasury Department to further sanction the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for its support for terrorism and to apply sanctions to its officials, agents, and affiliates,” President Trump told the press.
“The IRGC has played a central role to Iran becoming the world’s foremost state sponsor of terror,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a separate statement.
“We urge the private sector to recognize that the IRGC permeates much of the Iranian economy, and those who transact with IRGC-controlled companies do so at great risk.”