ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s judiciary chief reaffirmed on Tuesday that cases involving those recently arrested during nationwide protests would be expedited, citing their sensitivity and vowing to “strictly implement the law.”

“In handling cases of recent riots, the judges of the Supreme Court will strictly implement the law, and due to their national nature and sensitivity, these types of cases will be heard out of turn,” Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, chief justice of Iran’s Supreme Court, said on Tuesday, as cited by state-owned IRNA news agency. 

Montazeri said Iran’s enemies are seeking to undermine the Islamic republic through various means, but claimed their efforts have been thwarted, crediting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s leadership.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests since late last year, which have spread to the majority of provinces and increasingly targeted the government. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported that Iranian security forces have killed more than 6,800 protesters and arrested over 50,000. 

Tehran has labeled protesters as agents of the US and Israel and described the unrest as a continuation of June’s 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

The crackdowns on protestors have intensified, with Iranian authorities cutting communication services and imposing a nationwide internet blackout, a repeated tactic during unrest that has made it significantly harder to obtain information.

The judiciary soon ordered intensified cases against protesters labeled as “terrorist elements”, with “no leniency” for those acting against the country’s security. They warned that they could face charges often punishable by death under the Islamic republic’s judicial system.

Charges include “corruption on Earth” (efsad-e fel-arz), “enmity against God” (moharebeh), and “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi).

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily if Iran continues killing protesters.

​​Tehran and Washington have traded jabs ever since the protests erupted, with increasing reports of military movement in the Persian Gulf from both sides.