Ayatollah told crackdown broadened dissent, US airstrikes could spark new unrest

Senior Iranian officials reportedly warned the country’s supreme leader that popular anger against the regime has only grown since the crackdown last month, adding that American airstrikes could spark a new wave of protests aimed at toppling the Islamic Republic.

By World Israel News Staff

Iranian officials have warned Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the violent crackdown on dissident protesters last month has failed to deter critics of the regime, adding that if the United States decides to strike the Islamic Republic, the protests could resume and potentially topple the government, according to a report published Monday night.

Six different current and former Iranian officials told Reuters that public anger over the widespread killing of demonstrators, which took place over the course of several days in January, not only failed to serve as a deterrent but also likely exacerbated widespread frustrations with the government.

During high-level meetings, officials told Iran’s supreme leader that an American air campaign against the country could spark a resumption of the protests and potentially lead to a coup.

Large numbers of Iranians are willing to return to the streets and confront pro-regime forces, the officials told Ayatollah Khamenei.

“An attack combined with demonstrations by angry people could lead to a collapse [of the regime]. That is the main concern among the top officials, and that is what our enemies want,” one Iranian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

One former Iranian official warned that the Iranian people “are extremely angry” following the deadly crackdown, adding that while the killings enraged many, they did not inspire the kind of fear the regime had hoped to instill.

“The wall of fear has collapsed. There is no fear left,” he said.

Iran’s former prime minister, Mirhossein Mousavi – who, after leaving office, became a critic of the regime and has been held under house arrest since 2011 – hinted that the backlash following the crackdown would lead to a revolution.

“The river of warm blood that was spilled in the cold month of January will not stop boiling until it changes the course of history,” Mousavi said, according to the Kalameh website.