“To protest or not to protest.” Many Iranians now face a dilemma that echoes a famous line from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The country, which is currently at war with the United States and Israel, is also dealing with domestic unrest. For many Iranians frustrated by economic hardship, the decision is difficult: they can either take to the streets and risk arrest, violence or worse, or they can remain silent.
When the US and Israel first struck Iran in late February, US President Donald Trump called on the Iranians to “take over your government”, saying the country would then be theirs and suggesting it could be their only chance for generations, according to a BBC report. But as the conflict has escalated over the past two weeks, Iranians are now getting mixed signals about what might happen if they decide to protest.
Encouraging messages from figures outside of Iran coincided with reports of a growing security and police presence in cities across the country. Islamic Republic officials warned citizens not to organize protests or public gatherings. Security forces and paramilitaries have been patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints in major cities in an attempt to discourage demonstrations.
“The forces have their fingers on the trigger”: police chief
Earlier this week, Iran’s police chief, Ahmadreza Radan, warned that anyone participating in protests “at the request of the enemy” would be treated as the enemy. He added that the country’s forces are ready to defend the revolution, saying they are ready to protect the nation and its people.
In another incident, an anchor on Iranian state television warned critics of the Islamic Republic that once the unrest died down, authorities would pursue those involved. The moderator also suggested that protesters’ property could be confiscated and that their families could face consequences for opposing the government.
Pahlavi’s “Last Call”
These warnings contrast sharply with encouraging messages from figures outside the country. Earlier this week, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, urged people in the country to gather essential supplies and wait out what he called the “final call”.
In a video message released on Tuesday, Pahlavi advised Iranians to stay home for their safety and not go to work due to the ongoing strikes. He also addressed members of Iran’s military and security forces, saying they had a last chance to distance themselves from what he called repressive forces and stand with the public. His remarks came at a time when security measures were being tightened across the country.
Iranians abroad warned
On March 8, Tehran’s General Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement warning Iranians living abroad that cooperation with what it described as “hostile enemies” could result in severe punishment. Referring to Iran’s law to toughen penalties for espionage and cooperation with Israel and other hostile states, the statement said activities such as operational assistance, espionage or intelligence cooperation with those countries could lead to the death penalty and confiscation of assets.
Human rights groups say that during weeks of anti-government demonstrations in late December and early January 2026, security forces launched a major crackdown that resulted in the deaths of at least 7,000 protesters.
