By Pishtaz | 2026-03-28

Fears of a new and even more brutal crackdown in Iran are growing after the country's police chief, Ahmad-Reza Radan, openly branded protesters as "enemies."

His warning has reinforced public perceptions that the Islamic Republic increasingly views its own citizens as an existential threat to its survival.

The statement came in the aftermath of massive nationwide protests that shook the country in January, marking the largest unrest in the regime's history.

According to an AFP report, campaigners believe authorities are already preparing a fresh wave of repression despite rising external tensions.

Radan's message was unusually explicit and left little room for interpretation about how authorities intend to respond to future demonstrations.

By redefining demonstrators as hostile actors rather than citizens exercising political rights, the regime is reinforcing a narrative that treats dissent as a national threat.

'Shoot to kill' warnings

The rhetoric has been accompanied by direct threats of lethal force against anyone perceived as challenging the state.

Radan warned that security forces already have their "fingers on the trigger" and will respond with bullets to movements seen as supporting foreign adversaries.

Human rights groups say such language should not be dismissed as symbolic because it reflects a well-established pattern of violent repression.

During the recent protests, authorities arrested tens of thousands of people and repeatedly signaled that there would be no leniency for those labeled "rioters."

The crackdown is not limited to the streets and increasingly targets people who express dissent through social media platforms.

Radan also emphasized that individuals "disturbing the public mind" online are being tracked through cyber surveillance and dealt with decisively.

He claimed that thousands have already received warnings or are facing detention because of their online activity supporting the protests.

Judiciary threats reinforce fear

Human rights activists say the recent statements reveal a deeper fear inside the regime about growing public anger and unrest.

"Radan's statement is part of a broader pattern of threats from Islamic Republic officials about an even more brutal crackdown on protests," said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights.

"The authorities know that their real existential threat is not American or Israeli bombs and missiles, but the Iranian people who demand fundamental change," he told AFP.

The role of the judiciary has further intensified fears that the authorities are preparing harsher punishment for those already detained.

Under judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, officials have already vowed harsh sentences for those arrested during the January protests.

Those threats have included the use of capital punishment, signaling that the authorities intend to deter future demonstrations through fear.

Recent executions of young protesters have already intensified fears that the government is attempting to silence dissent through terror.