Iranians are being pulled between calls from abroad to rise up against the Islamic Republic and blunt warnings at home that any such move could bring deadly consequences, as the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran enters a more dangerous phase, according to BBC.
After US President Donald Trump launched strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he urged Iranians to seize the moment.
“Take over your government,” Trump said. “It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”
But inside Iran, the message from the authorities has been the opposite.
Officials have stepped up warnings against gatherings and anti-government protests as reports point to a heavier security and police presence in cities across the country.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Police Chief Brigadier General Ahmadreza Radan said anyone taking to the streets “at the enemy’s request” would be treated as an “enemy”.
“All our forces have their fingers on the trigger and are ready to defend the revolution and support their people and their country,” Radan said.
State media has amplified the threat. A presenter on Iran’s Channel Three addressed opponents of the Islamic Republic and those considering protest with a warning that punishment would not stop at property seizures.
“When the dust of this sedition settles, we will come after you,” the presenter said.
“Confiscating your property will be the least of it. We will make you and your families pay, whether you are inside the country or abroad.”
Iran’s Prosecutor General Office issued a separate warning on March 8 aimed at Iranians living overseas. It said anyone co-operating with what it called “hostile enemies” could face severe punishment under Iran’s law on the “intensification of punishment for espionage and cooperation with Israel and hostile countries”.
The statement said any “operational activity, intelligence cooperation or espionage” for such countries could lead not only to confiscation of assets but also to the death penalty.
The threats have revived fears among Iranians of the risks attached to any attempt at open dissent.
Human rights groups say at least 7,000 protesters were killed in an unprecedented crackdown by security forces during weeks of anti-government demonstrations in December and January.
At the same time, figures outside Iran are telling people the conflict has opened a rare chance to challenge the clerical establishment.
On Tuesday, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, urged people to prepare for further turmoil and await what he called his “final call”. He advised Iranians to secure essential supplies quickly and then stay off the streets.
“For your own safety, leave the streets and remain in your homes. Continue strikes and do not go to work. To show your unity, keep up the night-time chants [against the authorities] with strength,” he said in a video message.
Pahlavi also appealed directly to members of Iran’s military and security apparatus, calling it their “final opportunity” to break with the state and join the public.
His appeal came as the atmosphere inside Iran tightened further. With an internet blackout still in effect, checkpoints have been erected in many neighbourhoods and streets.
On Wednesday, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Israeli drones had struck several checkpoints in Tehran. It reported that a number of armed personnel were killed and, citing what it described as unofficial sources, said “around 10” people had died.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also sought to speak directly to Iranians since the fighting began. He said Israel would “create conditions that will allow you to take your destiny into your own hands”.
This week he went further, calling the moment a “unique opportunity” for Iranians to overthrow “the regime of the ayatollahs” and secure their freedom.
The duelling messages underline the pressure building around Iran as the conflict deepens.
Authorities at home are making clear that dissent will be met with force, while voices abroad are portraying the war as a possible opening for political change.
As military strikes continue, concerns over civilian casualties, wider regional instability and disruption to global energy markets are growing. Inside Iran, millions are watching events unfold while calculating the risks of whatever comes next.
