Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on the 10th, local time, that "protecting security is a red line." The comment is seen as defining anti-government protests as a security threat and signaling a hard-line crackdown.
According to Reuters that day, the Revolutionary Guard issued a statement via state TV saying, "Over the past two days, terrorists attacked military and security bases, killed civilians and security personnel, and set fires."
The Iranian military also issued a statement saying it would "protect national interests, strategic infrastructure, and public property."
In Iran, anti-government protests have intensified since the 28th of last month. The protests, which began among merchants protesting a falling exchange rate and soaring prices, have continued into their second week.
Since the 8th, the Iranian government has completely cut off international phone calls and the internet, blocking communication with the outside world. As the government cracks down hard on the anti-government protests, deaths and detentions are also increasing. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the death toll related to the unrest has reached 65. The Norway-based human rights group Hengaw estimates that 2,500 protesters have been detained.