Regime in ‘Survival Mode’: Khamenei Orders Highest State of Alert as Iran Protests Reach Tipping Point
By Lions Roar News World Desk
TEHRAN, IRAN (January 10, 2026) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has placed the nation’s security services on their highest state of alert as anti-regime protests enter their 13th day, threatening to topple the Islamic Republic.
In a move signaling deep distrust within his own ranks, Khamenei has bypassed regular police and the army—fearing widespread defections—and handed total control of the crackdown to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
⚔️ The IRGC Takes Control: Defections and “Missile Cities”
The regime’s shift to the IRGC comes amid reports that some security forces are refusing to fire on their own citizens.
- Internal Purge: The Norway-based Hengaw human rights group reports that several security members have been arrested for refusing orders to shoot protesters.
- Underground Activation: For the first time since the war with Israel last year, Iran has activated its classified “underground missile cities.” These sites, located deep beneath western Iran, are on high alert to deter any external intervention.
- Survival Mode: One senior official told reporters that Khamenei is “in closer contact with the IRGC than the army,” believing the Revolutionary Guard is the only force whose loyalty remains “non-existent” to defection.
📉 Rising Death Toll and Nationwide Chaos
The humanitarian situation has deteriorated rapidly. Human rights groups now report the death toll has risen to 42 since the unrest began on December 28.
| Category | Statistic |
| Total Arrests | 2,277+ |
| Minors Detained | 166 |
| Confirmed Deaths | 42 |
| Scope | Tehran and 100+ cities |
On Thursday night alone, six people were killed in Hamedan, and government buildings were torched. In a major symbolic blow, protesters in Fars province pulled down a statue of the late Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
🏛️ Global Tension: Trump vs. Khamenei
The crisis has triggered a volatile war of words between Washington and Tehran.
- The Trump Threat: U.S. President Donald Trump warned he would hit Iran “very hard where it hurts” if the violence continues, though he stopped short of promising boots on the ground. He suggested Khamenei might soon be forced to flee the country.
- The Khamenei Response: Speaking publicly for the first time since January 3, the Supreme Leader called Trump “arrogant” and told him to focus on America’s own problems, labeling the protesters “domestic terrorists.”
- European Condemnation: UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement condemning the killing of civilians and urging “maximum restraint.”
🚫 Communications Blackout
Iran remains in a digital vacuum. Internet services are partially cut, international phone calls are failing to connect, and dozens of flights from hubs like Dubai and Turkey have been cancelled as airlines pull out of the country.
