ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iranian protesters will be treated as “enemies” if they support the enemies of Tehran, the country’s police chief warned late Tuesday, after the Islamic republic cracked down on nationwide demonstrations in January.

“If anyone comes forward and acts upon the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer treat them as merely protesters but rather as the enemies,” said Ahmad-Reza Radan, Iran’s top police officer, as cited by national broadcaster IRIB.

"And we will do to them what we do to an enemy. We will deal with them in the same way we deal with enemies," he added.

His remarks come after the Islamic republic brutally cracked down on nationwide demonstrations in January that stemmed from an economic downfall but quickly led to calls to overthrow the regime. 

“All our forces are ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend the revolution,” Radan stressed. 

Iran has repeatedly referred to the recent nationwide protests as “foreign plots,” and labeled the demonstrators “terrorist elements” working for the US and Israel.

Tehran has also confirmed that over 3,000 protesters were killed in the recent demonstrations, though the real number is feared to be much higher. 

The Iranian judiciary has stated that there will be “no leniency” for those acting against the country’s security. Those arrested 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).

During the ongoing war with the US and Israel, Iranian intelligence forces have arrested 30 individuals across the country on charges of spying for the two countries. 

Documents obtained by The New Region show that, since the start of the war, the Iranian government has been warning citizens via text messages not to record or post videos of bombardments and missile strikes online.