Tehran. The public anger against the rule of Ayatollah Khamenei in all 31 provinces and about 180 cities of Iran has now reached a decisive turn. Protestors have gone out of control in every corner of the country including the capital Tehran and the situation is not limited to protests only on the streets, but now voices of rebellion have started rising within the regime as well. Amidst international pressure and constant threats from the US, Supreme Leader Khamenei has activated the country’s secret military resources to save his power.
According to reports, Iran has put on alert its mysterious missile cities, i.e. those huge military bases built underground, where a stock of deadly long-range missiles is present. Defense experts believe that Iran is currently in a higher level of military preparedness than in the wars that took place last year. In view of the rebellion taking place in some parts of the police and army to control the internal situation of the country, Khamenei has taken his most loyal squad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on the streets. The Corps has been given clear instructions to suppress the voice of the rebels at any cost. The government has adopted a very strict stance to intimidate the protesters and has announced that those who rebel will be considered enemies of God. According to Iranian law, there is a provision for barbaric punishments like hanging, amputation of hands and feet or deportation for the culprits falling in this category. This step has been taken directly with the aim of creating fear in the minds of the public. Human rights organizations claim that the regime is taking repressive actions not only against the general public, but also against security personnel who refused to open fire on unarmed civilians. Many policemen have been arrested and taken to unknown places. More than 62 people have been confirmed dead so far in the violence over the past two weeks, while the number of people detained has crossed 2,277. A large number of students and minors are also among those arrested. From the streets of Tehran to the international diplomatic corridors, the discussion is intense whether Khamenei’s missile move and harsh repression will be able to save his power, or whether this uprising will usher in a new era in Iran.