Concerns of Islamic Republic Officials Over New Wave of Protests; Salami: 'The Enemy' Has Not Retreated

On the eve of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death and the potential resurgence of protests, Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), described the 'enemy' as 'experienced, field-savvy, and seasoned,' claiming that although he asserts they have 'failed, they have not retreated or gone silent.' According to reports from Iranian news agencies on Wednesday, September 13, Salami claimed at a student mobilization conference in Tehran that the 'enemy' seeks to shift 'the battlefield from territorial geography to the geography of minds.' The term 'enemy' is typically used by Iranian officials to refer to the United States, Israel, and Western countries. Salami also claimed that 'enemies are trying to distance our youth from the moral sphere' and that 'a review of educational texts' is 'necessary' so that students learn 'knowledge' that is not influenced by the ambiguities of the enemies. However, according to images shared on social media, Iranian officials also utilized child and adolescent Basij forces to suppress public protests in the second half of 1401 (2022). Reports have previously indicated a decline in the repressive forces of the Islamic Republic. Judicial officials have also accused some protesters of 'effectively inciting combatants or individuals serving the armed forces to rebellion, escape, surrender, or failure to perform military duties and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' Salami had previously referred to these protests as the 'strongest' struggle against the Islamic Republic and warned of a repeat of them on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Amjad Amini, Mahsa Amini's father, stated in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America that they would hold a memorial ceremony to honor his daughter, 'the martyr and innocent Zhina (Mahsa) and to celebrate her pure spirit.' He added, 'However, given the circumstances, we cannot officially call on people to attend the ceremony or tell them not to participate.' Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, had previously stated in response to a question from the Persian section of Voice of America that the Islamic Republic has not learned from recent protests. John Kirby, the National Security Council's strategic communications coordinator at the White House, had also said: 'After Mahsa Amini's death and the public protests, the people of Iran should now be able to make decisions for themselves and women should choose their own dress.'