News

Iran Revolutionary Guard Commander, Hossein Hamadani told ILNA news agency that security forces arrested about 100 members of dissident groups on February 11. He added that the detainees were members of People's Mojahedin Organization and Association of Iranian Monarchist and intended to carry out "bombings and assassinations" on this day.

The judiciary has already executed three individuals which they claim were connected with the Association of Iranian Monarchists.

February 11 is the most significant date in Iran's Revolutionary calendar as it marks the victory of the 1979 Revolution when the monarchy was ousted and the Islamic Republic established. This year election protesters, who have been protesting the alleged fraudulent victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June presidential elections, had announced that they would also stage their own march on this day to express their demands.

Before February 11, authorities had announced that no special security measures were being considered for the day. However, on the day of the demonstration, election protesters were faced with immediate confrontation of security forces and impeded from coming together.

Commander Hamadani confirmed that "security and order police" were widely present on the streets of Tehran on this day but they had made great efforts not to turn "Tehran in army barracks."