Iran threatens protesters with death penalty as crackdown grows

"Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic won't tolerate "vandalism" or "people acting as mercenaries for foreign powers," state-run Press TV reported. A Tehran prosecutor later warned rioters who damage public property would face the death penalty. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, charged with defending the pillars of the 1979 revolution, also issued a statement, saying "the continuation of this situation is unacceptable" and that it had the right to avenge "terrorist incidents.""

"The death toll since the unrest began has risen to 42, according to the US-based Human Rights News Agency, which tracks protests and the activities of political activists in Iran. UK broadcaster BBC said it had independently confirmed at least 21 of the fatalities. The OPEC member's situation has been worsened by corruption and by oil prices falling heavily in the past year. Benchmark Brent has risen about 4pc this week to above $62 per barrel, its biggest weekly gain since October, amid the protests."

Iranian leadership and security forces have threatened harsher responses to widespread protests, warning against vandalism and labeling some participants as mercenaries for foreign powers. A Tehran prosecutor warned rioters who damage public property could face the death penalty, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted its right to avenge what it called terrorist incidents. Protests began in Tehran's Grand Bazaar on December 28 after a currency slump deepened a cost-of-living crisis, and have become the most serious challenge to the government since 2022. Reported fatalities range into the dozens, oil prices have swung, and a nationwide internet shutdown and communication failures persist.

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