Apocalyptic video from Karaj, large city just northeast of Tehran, shows rumored sacking of prosecutors office, a symbol of repression and regime excesses.
Seasoned, hardened Tehran-based journalist: βI think the grassroots and lower middle class are venting out anger and the destination of the protests is unknown.β
βPeople ask me what will happen next,β Abbas Abdi, a leader of 1979 seizure of US Embassy in Tehran and now an influential reformist, wrote in a column. βAnd I can say that people can tolerate economic pressure but not humiliation.β
On the situation in #Iran, this is what my contacts on the ground have told me:
The protests started by groups who are anti-Rouhani, but ppl who are frustrated with current situation joined and changed the scale/demands of protests
Iranβs semi-official Mehr News Agency cites provincial official confirming deaths of 2 people during βillegalβ Dec 30 protests in Doroud, Lorestan. Official said βforeign intelligence servicesβ were behind protests.
Stark warning from Iranβs Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli: "Those who attempt to destroy public property, disrupt law and order, break the law and threaten people's security must answer for their behaviour and pay the price.β 1/2
"Those who misused social media to create insecurity, disorder, lawlessness and destroyed people's property proved that this facility is an excuse for them; they just want to spread violence and intimidation, and this behavior will definitely be dealt with.β 2/2 #pt
Iranβs Mehr news agency warns: βSeveral takfiri groups have been dispatching forces to Tehran & other cities. These groups commissioned forces to shoot or stab people at the protests & attribute killings to the police, Basij or the IRGC.β
Youth torch police motorcycle in "conservative" Mashhad. No matter how much Iran regime spends to indoctrinate youth, each generation gets more radical: 2017 more than 2009, more than 1999. They hate you, Khamenei. They really, really hate you.