Feb 9 • 06:00 UTC 🇬🇧 UK Guardian

Iran arrests leading reformists close to the country’s president

The Iranian government has arrested several prominent reformist figures, raising concerns about the impact on ongoing protests and political tensions in the country.

The recent arrests of key figures in Iran's Reformists Front, including its head, Masoud Pezeshkian, by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps mark a significant escalation in the government's crackdown on dissent. These arrests are likely to exacerbate tensions surrounding the handling of recent street protests, which have seen widespread calls for reform and greater freedoms. The arrests are not only aimed at detaining those directly involved in the protests but also at silencing influential voices within the reformist movement that could mobilize public support against the government.

Azar Mansouri, the secretary general of the Islamic Iran People party, has been outspoken in her condolences for the lives lost during the protests, emphasizing that nothing can justify the violence against demonstrators. However, she has stopped short of calling for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, perhaps indicating a cautious approach within the reformist faction to avoid further backlash from the regime. The government's response to dissent suggests a strategy of intimidation and suppression against those who threaten the political status quo.

With the arrests of other prominent reformists such as Ebrahim Asgharzadeh and Mohsen Aminzadeh, the Iranian regime seems determined to eliminate any potential leadership that could emerge from the reformist camp. This systematic detainment of key political figures raises serious questions about the future of political reform in Iran and whether the current leadership will continue to respond with force rather than dialogue. As tensions escalate, the potential for further protests and civil unrest remains high, signaling a turbulent political environment ahead for the country.

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