Three-minute read
The clerical regime in Iran is ramping up its campaign of oppression against its own people, escalating efforts to crush dissent and maintain control in the face of growing resistance. Recent actions, such as brutal punishments and increased surveillance, indicate a regime desperate to preserve its hold on power amid a fragile and volatile domestic situation.
In a shocking display of cruelty, the regime’s Judiciary has requested hand amputation for eight individuals accused of theft in Tehran. According to the state-affiliated Hamshahri newspaper on October 12, the special prosecutor requested the harshest punishment—Hudud—calling for the amputation of hands. This inhumane measure has sparked outrage, especially considering the regime’s leaders, including those in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), are implicated in some of the largest thefts in Iran’s history, squandering billions in national resources through corruption, military ventures, and nuclear programs.
Further evidence of the regime’s efforts to fortify its control came from a statement by Ahmadreza Radan, head of the State Security Forces, announcing that 18,000 police body cameras will be deployed by the end of the year. Of these, 10,000 will function offline, while the rest will operate online, amplifying the regime’s surveillance apparatus. Additionally, Tehran’s traffic police have been equipped with 150 more heavy-duty motorcycles to strengthen enforcement capabilities.
Watch and judge why this insider is warning that the regime is destined for a collapse or #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/Ysu6LbOhnz
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 1, 2024
The regime’s reliance on brutality and repression is clear not only through physical measures but also in rhetoric. Senior clerics close to the regime have made incendiary comments reflecting the government’s paranoia and fear of internal unrest. For instance, Ahmad Alamolhoda, Friday Prayer Imam in Mashhad, spoke on October 12, citing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent remarks on preventing cultural infiltration by “enemy agents.” He suggested that Iran cannot afford national unity at the expense of morality, alluding to the need to suppress internal dissenters who, in his words, aim to raise the flag of the enemy.
This rhetoric reflects the regime’s deep fear of another popular uprising, like those in recent years following the death of Mahsa Amini. As Mohammad Ebadizadeh, the regime’s Friday Prayer Imam in Bandar Abbas, stated on October 12, “We are far less worried about enemy planes coming and bombing a specific point—that is not our concern. We are more concerned about the psychological warfare inside the country. We worry that their agents and affiliates may try to drag this nation into chaos and unrest, and we must stay vigilant against the enemy’s tricks and actions within our society.”
His remarks highlight the regime’s greater fear of internal unrest over external threats. The clerics’ fixation on controlling domestic dissent underscores the fragile state of their rule, which stands on shaky ground as economic conditions worsen, and public anger grows.
Watch and judge how this former #Iranian official (who happens to be the son of former regime's president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani) warns the state's leadership against #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/dAS7ewKL8M
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 28, 2023
For over four decades, Iran’s rulers have relied on foreign wars, proxy conflicts, and brutal internal repression to maintain power. From Khomeini’s destructive eight-year war with Iraq to Khamenei’s current military adventures across the Middle East, the regime’s survival strategy has centered on exporting crises beyond its borders. Yet today, the clerical regime faces a far more dangerous foe—its people. With public discontent rising and protests erupting across the country, the regime knows that even external threats could become deadly, as the Iranian people are ready to seize any opportunity to overthrow the dictatorship.
This is why the regime has intensified its crackdown on supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the country’s main internal resistance force. The judiciary recently sentenced several PMOI supporters, including boxing champion Mohammad Javad Vafaie Sani, Behrouz Ehsani, and Mehdi Hassani to death.
This crackdown comes amid an alarming rise in executions, with more than 260 inhuman sentences carried out since July 2024 under President Pezeshkian, as the regime escalates its repression in response to increasing public support for opposition movements.
Watch how the regime in #Iran is rushing with state-sanctioned executions and judge if #IranRevolution is the reason why this started… or if it will end this practice. pic.twitter.com/JoGUsObsYL
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 3, 2023
As the regime’s desperation mounts, so too does the need for international action. The global community cannot remain silent while the Iranian regime intensifies its campaign of oppression, torture, and executions. The use of brutal punishments such as hand amputation and the death penalty to subdue the population is an unacceptable violation of human rights.
The time has come for all nations, particularly those engaging diplomatically or economically with Iran, to condition any relationship with the clerical regime on the immediate halt of executions and systemic abuses. Anything less than this would betray the Iranian people’s fight for freedom and dignity.
Countering the Iranian regime is not just about standing up for the people of Iran—it is also vital for securing regional peace and global security. By holding the regime accountable and putting an end to its repressive tactics, the international community can serve both humanity within Iran and the broader goal of stability across the region and the world.
