Sadegh Larijani's Directive to Prosecutors: Deal with the Rioters

Continuing the threats from Iranian officials regarding the recent protests, the head of the judiciary instructed prosecutors to take "decisive and serious action" against those he referred to as "rioters and troublemakers." According to the state news agency IRNA, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani stated on Monday, January 1, that "people must pursue their legitimate demands through legal means" and separate themselves from "rioters and troublemakers." The head of the judiciary ordered prosecutors across Iran to take decisive and serious action against what he described as "destruction of public property, destruction of personal property, and violation of individuals' rights." Protesters have chanted slogans against the head of the judiciary during some of the recent gatherings in several cities in Iran. Reports indicate that nearly 400 protesters have been arrested in various cities. Officials in some provinces of Iran have also reported the arrest of several protesters but did not provide specific numbers. On Monday, the head of the judiciary also deemed the statements of officials from some countries about the recent protests as "stemming from their lack of understanding of the Iranian people and a repetition of an old mistake," adding that officials from the U.S., the U.K., and some other countries are "supporting the chaos by repeating past mistakes, just like during the 2009 unrest." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also attributed the recent protests to "provocation" by foreign countries, including the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia. In response, Israel Katz, Israel's Minister of Intelligence, stated that Israel has no involvement in these demonstrations. The White House, in a statement late Sunday, reiterated the U.S. support for peaceful protests in Iran. In recent days, the President, the U.S. State Department, and several U.S. lawmakers have expressed support for peaceful protests in Iran. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, tweeted on Sunday regarding the "widespread protests in Iran," stating: "The people are finally realizing how their money and wealth are being stolen and spent on terrorism. It seems that this will no longer be the case." The Iranian Foreign Ministry previously reacted to the U.S. President's statements, describing them as "hypocritical and interventionist."