TEHRAN: Iran has arrested four prominent reformist politicians on charges of attempting to “disrupt political and social order” and collaborating with the U.S. and Israel. International media reported today that among those arrested are Azar Mansouri, the leader of the Reform Front, former diplomat Mohsen Aminzadeh, and former parliament member Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, the identity of the fourth individual has not yet been disclosed. The Iranian judiciary stated that these individuals were accused of “organizing and leading extensive activities” aimed at creating chaos, claiming they had recently attempted to justify the actions of protesters. Reports indicate that the arrests coincided with unrest in January, during which thousands of people were killed or detained. The protests initially began due to the economic crisis but later evolved into a widespread movement against the government across the country. Iranian officials labeled the protesters as “terrorists” and accused Israel and the U.S. of instigating the unrest. Reports suggest that more than 6,000 individuals have been killed in the nationwide demonstrations, while the Iranian government’s official count stands at 3,177 fatalities. In response to the protests and turmoil, the U.S. warned that the use of force against the demonstrators could lead to attacks on Iran, while Tehran has warned of a potential “regional war” in the event of foreign aggression.
