Commander of the IRGC Warns of Repeat Protests and 'Strongest Struggle' Against the Islamic Republic

The Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, described the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests as the 'strongest, most dangerous, and most serious' struggle against the Islamic Republic on a 'global' scale and warned of its recurrence on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. On Tuesday, August 1, Salami claimed at a nationwide Basij officials conference that 'the enemy intends to incite unrest again on the anniversary of the events of Fall 2022' and called for 'prevention' of such actions. He emphasized that the public protests that erupted across Iran following Mahsa Amini's death were the 'strongest, most dangerous, serious, unequal, and widespread struggle' against the Islamic Republic. Salami attributed this 'global' action to the 'enemy,' stating that 'the enemy intends to incite unrest again on the anniversary of the events of Fall 2022.' He highlighted the role of the IRGC and Basij in suppressing peaceful protests after Amini's death in custody, asserting that IRGC and Basij forces entered the field with 'high confidence and great hope.' Following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on September 16, 2022, during her detention by the morality police, nationwide protests continued for months, resulting in the deaths of over 500 individuals, including dozens of children, during the crackdown by Islamic Republic forces. In recent days, numerous reports have emerged of protest songs mourning the fallen protesters during the mourning period of Muharram. Less than two months before the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, reports from Iran indicate that protesters are preparing to hold memorials for her. Abdolhossein Khosropanah, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, also claimed that the 'enemy' has 'securitized the entire issue of chastity and hijab' through 'bands outside Iran' and 'wants to take the stronghold of hijab from us.' Khosropanah's remarks come as civil disobedience and resistance against mandatory hijab have intensified despite the Iranian government's increasing restrictive policies against women. According to reports from Iranian news agencies, Khosropanah claimed that 'only 10 percent' of the hijab issue is 'administrative and legal,' while '90 percent' pertains to 'culture, education, and media,' stating without further explanation that 'the responsibilities of the ministries of industry and interior regarding hijab are heavy.' Sociologist Shahla Shafigh told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic's laws regarding mandatory hijab have no impact on people's will, and men can stand alongside women in resisting it.