Iran judiciary chief warns of firm crackdown on unrest, blames US and Israel

Iran’s Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Eje'i has warned that rioters exploiting recent economic protests will face strict legal action, accusing the United States and Israel of openly supporting insecurity in the country. Speaking to judicial officials, he said peaceful economic concerns would be heard, but there would be no leniency for those inciting unrest.

The warning follows protests triggered by a sharp fall in Iran’s national currency, which reached record lows against the US dollar. While Iranian authorities acknowledge public economic pressure and defend the right to peaceful protest, they say foreign-backed elements are attempting to fuel violence. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also blamed hostile forces for the currency devaluation, while praising bazaar traders as loyal to the Islamic Republic.