As widespread protests erupted across Iran, the Iranian Army on Saturday (10th January) pledged to safeguard the country’s security and public infrastructure. The Army urged Iranians to foil the conspiracies of Iran’s enemies, accusing Israel and certain “hostile terrorist groups” of trying to undermine the country’s public security. In addition to that, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) declared that safeguarding security was a “red line,” avowing to protect public property.
In a statement broadcast on state TV, the IRGC said that terrorists have been targeting military and law enforcement bases over the last two nights. Several citizens and security personnel have been killed, and public property has been damaged. The statement added that safeguarding the achievements of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and maintaining security was “a red line,” and the continuation of the situation was unacceptable. “The Army, under the command of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, together with other armed forces, in addition to monitoring enemy movements in the region, will resolutely protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property,” the Iranian Army said.
The statement comes after the US President Trump warned the Iranian leaders on Friday (9th January) against shooting the protestors. “Iran’s in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” the US President said. “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too,” he warned. This was followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday, declaring US support for the people of Iran. “The United States supports the brave people of Iran,” Rubio said.
The United States supports the brave people of Iran
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 10, 2026
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a policy research organisation, 116 protests across 22 provinces of Iran have been recorded since Thursday (8th January). The Iranian regime has imposed a countrywide internet shutdown to suppress the protests.
MORE: @criticalthreats and ISW have recorded 116 protests across 22 provinces since 3:30 PM ET on January 8. Twenty of these protests were large protests, which CTP-ISW defines as protests with more than 1,000 participants. CTP-ISW’s protest data since its last data cutoff likely… https://t.co/twjrrmP046 pic.twitter.com/4eFZgEGq9W
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 10, 2026
Massive protests erupted across Iran on 3rd January, reportedly triggered by the rising cost of living in the country. Outraged citizens are calling for the end of the clerical establishment that has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution, which resulted in the removal of the pro-Western Shah ruler.
