Iran's Army Ground Forces Commander said that "rioters" would have no place in the Islamic Republic if the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a tougher crackdown on nationwide protests, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
" ... should he decide to deal with them, rioters will no longer have a place in the country," Brigadier General Kiumars Heydari said.
Anti-government demonstrations erupted in September after the death of Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by morality police for allegedly flouting the Islamic Republic's strict dress code imposed on women. The protests quickly turned into a popular revolt, with people ranging from students to doctors to lawyers to workers to athletes taking part.
