Iran officially declares ‘sedition’ over

State television shows massive pro-regime rallies in 10 cities

Iran saw another day of large pro-regime rallies Thursday after authorities declared the end of deadly unrest and turned attention to addressing the economic concerns that fueled protests.

A week after the demonstrations broke out, there were no reports of fresh protests in local media overnight, while videos on social media suggested only limited unrest in provincial towns which could not be immediately verified.

As Washington suggested it may be looking to impose fresh sanctions on Tehran, Iranian authorities were weighing options including blocking unpopular measures in President Hassan Rouhani’s recent budget.

State television showed huge crowds marching in support of the government across 10 cities early Thursday, including Isfahan, Ardebil and Mashhad, where the protests first erupted last Thursday.

“We are together behind the leader,” chanted the crowds, in reference to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“The revolutionary Iranian people have responded in time to the enemies and trouble-makers by coming out on the streets,” Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Khamenei, told the semi-official ISNA news agency.

“The people’s main demand now is for the government and officials to deal with the economic problems,” he said.

General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, on Wednesday announced the “end of the sedition.”

A total of 21 people died in five days of unrest that began on December 28 as protests against economic grievances quickly turned against the regime as a whole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations.

Jafari told state television that “a large number of the troublemakers” were behind the unrest, saying many had been arrested and would face “firm action.”

The unrest – the biggest challenge to Iran since mass protests in 2009 – caused international concern, with the US in particular accusing authorities of a crackdown on dissent.

A White House official, who asked for anonymity, said Wednesday that Washington would look for “actionable information” to try to bring fresh sanctions on those responsible.

US President Donald Trump, who has backed protesters, wrote: “You will see great support from the US at the appropriate time!”