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Leaked Plans Expose Iran's Violent Protest Suppression Strategy

2/4/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Leaked documents show a plan approved by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, to suppress protests with violence, surveillance, and internet shutdowns.
Developed after the 2019 protests, the strategy outlines three phases that culminate in armed action by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Internal assessments indicate a shift of authority to the IRGC during the January 2026 protests, which left over 6,800 dead.

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Story summary

Leaked documents show a plan approved by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, to suppress protests with violence, surveillance, and internet shutdowns.
Developed after the 2019 protests, the strategy outlines three phases that culminate in armed action by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Internal assessments indicate a shift of authority to the IRGC during the January 2026 protests, which left over 6,800 dead.