Iran Vows to Intensify Punishments for ‘Rioters’ Arrested in Protests

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1343 EAT on Tuesday 20 January 2026

Tehran, Iran – Iranian authorities are reaffirming their commitment to impose strict penalties on “rioters” detained during recent nationwide protests, while tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump continue to flare amid a persistent digital blackout.

In a post on X on Monday, judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei stated, “Our work in the judiciary concerning the recent developments has only just begun.”

Tehran, Iran – Iranian judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei has warned that granting leniency to individuals who do not deserve it would be a betrayal of justice.

“If, without justification, we grant leniency to someone who is not deserving of leniency, then we have acted contrary to justice,” Ejei stated, underscoring the government’s stance on the recent wave of arrests during nationwide protests.

His remarks come amid a continued nationwide internet blackout, which remains fully in place for most of Iran, despite a brief period of partial reconnection on Sunday.

Ejei also held a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, where the three leaders jointly vowed to enforce harsh punishments for those involved in the unrest.

In a statement released by state media, the trio declared that “murderers and terrorist seditionists” would face decisive action. However, they suggested that individuals who were “tricked” by foreign powers into participating in the protests could potentially benefit from “Islamic compassion” from authorities.

Iranian officials have consistently accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating and funding the protests, claiming foreign interference behind the unrest.

On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made an unprecedented admission, acknowledging that “several thousands” had been killed during the protests. However, he maintained that it was agents affiliated with foreign powers, rather than state forces, who were directly responsible for the deaths.

Tehran, Iran – The Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced on Monday that it had arrested an unspecified number of members of a “terrorist team” who had allegedly entered the country through its western borders.

State media reported additional arrests over the past 24 hours in several provinces, including Kerman, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Shiraz, and Bandar Anzali. Authorities claim the individuals detained were “leaders of riots” accused of violent actions targeting government buildings, mosques, and other institutions.

Ahmadreza Radan, Iran’s hardline chief of police, told state television on Monday that protesters who were “tricked” into participating in the unrest have three days to surrender and could receive reduced sentences if they do so.

“We have made a promise to the people to pursue the rioters and terrorists until the last person,” Radan said, adding that many of those arrested had already confessed to crimes including violence, murder, and looting.

In recent days, state television has aired confessions from dozens of detainees, with their faces obscured, a practice that has drawn widespread international condemnation for years.

Authorities also signaled their intent to recover financial losses incurred during the protests, announcing plans to seize the assets of individuals who either publicly supported or participated in the unrest.

Tehran, Iran – Mohammad Movahedi Azad, the hardline cleric who heads the prosecutor general’s office, stated that those responsible for backing the “monarchy sedition” during recent protests must be held accountable for the damages caused. “According to the law, the damages from the recent riots must be demanded from the supporters of the sedition, and these individuals must face justice,” Movahedi Azad said.

In a report by Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), authorities announced that they had seized the assets of a prominent businessman, including a series of well-known cafes and several major food brands across the country. The total value of these assets is reportedly close to the estimated damages incurred during the protests in Tehran.

Former football star Voria Ghafouri, who was arrested in 2022 for supporting previous nationwide protests, also had his cafe confiscated as part of the crackdown.
Trump’s Threats ‘Crossing a Red Line’
Amid the ongoing unrest, former U.S.

President Donald Trump’s remarks about Iran have sparked a fierce response from top Iranian officials. At the height of the protests, Trump called on Iranians to “take over” government institutions, promising that “help is on the way.” He also expressed “great respect” for the Iranian leadership after claiming that plans to execute more than 800 political prisoners were halted.

However, Trump’s latest comments on Saturday escalated tensions, as he called for an end to the 37-year rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The statement prompted some of the highest authorities in the Islamic Republic to issue strong rebukes, signaling a clear line drawn in response to what they described as “foreign interference” in Iran’s internal affairs.

Tehran, Iran – In a statement carried by state media, the Guardian Council, a powerful 12-member constitutional watchdog that must approve all legislation before it becomes law, condemned what it described as the “insult and baseless rhetoric” of U.S. President Donald Trump. The council specifically criticized Trump’s comments regarding Iran’s leadership, labeling them as “criminal and foolish.”

The Guardian Council emphasized that any attack on Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “crosses the red line of the devout people of the Islamic Republic of Iran” and would result in “heavy costs and serious consequences.”

During a public session of parliament on Monday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, accused Trump of using “all of his non-existent credibility to extend chaos, insecurity, and killings in Iran.” His remarks reflect growing hostility between the two nations as tensions continue to escalate.

Internet Blackout Continues
Meanwhile, Hossein Afshin, the Iranian president’s deputy for scientific affairs, informed reporters that internet restrictions would be “gradually” eased starting later this week. However, he provided few details regarding the timeline or scope of the reopening.

International monitoring groups, including NetBlocks, have noted that the periodic reconnections signal the authorities may be testing new methods for enforcing the country’s strict digital blackout. These intermittent outages appear to be part of a broader strategy to maintain control over information flow while still allowing limited access to the internet.

-Aljazeera

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