The violent, bloody crackdown on Iran's protests on January 8-9 was part of a "multi-layered process" planned by the regime since 2022, Iran International reported on Thursday, citing a former Iranian Interior Ministry official speaking on the condition of anonymity.
According to Iran International, the former official "also has a history of serving in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC]."
Training to handle protests "was systematically implemented," the former official told Iran International, including organizing informal motorcycle and foot patrols and marking strategic vantage points for snipers.
In addition to physical training, the former official shared that “ideological theoretical training and psychological preparation to kill, including firing final shots at protesters" were taught by the regime, adding that in some cases, thugs were trained to play the role of "leaders" during the protests.
According to the former official, thugs were employed by the regime to "identify individuals and guide or misdirect street movements."
Leaked Iranian docs support the claim
A trove of leaked Iranian documents reported on by multiple outlets on Wednesday revealed a premeditated and coordinated strategy by Tehran’s leadership to suppress domestic unrest.
According to the New York Post, audio from an April 2025 security meeting in Tehran captured senior officials boasting they had “neutralized all threats” and that “another uprising is impossible.”
Fox News reported that the same cache of leaked materials included a Comprehensive Tehran Security Plan drafted in late 2024 by the IRGC's Sarallah Garrison and approved by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The plan reportedly granted security forces authority to kill “as many people as necessary in order to stay in power,” identified “high-risk” individuals likely to organize protests, and ordered commanders to escalate rapidly to lethal force.
Also included was a directive from the Interior Ministry outlining a four-stage response that involved throttling or cutting internet access, isolating protest hotspots, and preventing international observers from monitoring events.