Iranian authorities have initiated the punishment process for individuals detained during recent anti-government protests across the country. Judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei announced on January 19 that judicial operations have been intensified, warning that leniency toward those deemed undeserving would contradict justice. The government has also restricted internet access nationwide, citing security concerns, after briefly restoring partial connectivity the previous day.

Mohseni-Ejei met with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf before issuing a joint statement pledging strict action against what they called 'murderous and terrorist instigators.' However, they said protesters misled by foreign powers might receive 'Islamic compassion.' Iranian officials again accused the United States and Israel of funding and arming demonstrators. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that several thousand people were killed in the unrest but attributed the deaths to agents linked to foreign powers rather than state forces.

The protests began on December 28 in Tehran’s downtown commercial district and have led to the arrest or detention of more than 10,000 people, according to estimates cited in the report. Authorities continue to release new arrest data daily.