Iran Anti-Government Protests 2026: Judicial Warnings and Rising Military Tensions

Tehran's Grand Bazaar is silent, but the streets are screaming. Iran's top judge just issued a chilling warning to protesters as an economic death spiral grips the nation.

According to Fars news agency, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei declared on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, that there will be "no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic." He pointed fingers at Israel and the United States, accusing them of sowing chaos following the recent escalation of domestic unrest.

Economic Collapse and the 2026 Iran Protests

The demonstrations, which began at the end of last month, were sparked by shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shuttering their businesses. They're protesting the collapse of the rial currency and decades of government mismanagement. In a desperate bid to calm the public, the government started paying a monthly subsidy of $7 for essentials like rice and meat—a move many citizens call insulting given the hyperinflation.

The Shadow of International Intervention

The situation is complicated by external threats. US President Donald Trump warned last week that the US is "locked and loaded" to rescue the Iranian people if the regime resorts to violence. This rhetoric carries weight after the recent US military raid in Venezuela to seize Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the protesters, suggesting they're finally taking their fate into their own hands.

In response, Major-General Amir Hatami, Iran's army chief, threatened preemptive military action. He stated that the armed forces are in a higher state of readiness than they were before the 12-day war that occurred seven months ago, during which Israeli and US forces targeted Iranian nuclear sites.

Rising Casualties and Human Rights Concerns

While official casualty figures remain undisclosed by the state, the human rights network HRANA has reported at least 36 deaths and 2,076 arrests. The New York-based Soufan Center notes that these protests reflect long-standing anger at government repression and policies that have led to global isolation.