Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal

“In the past two months hardliners have intensified their efforts to enforce veiling laws more forcefully to put a stop to women’s increasing defiance of the compulsory hijab. Since popular protests after Mahsa Amini died at the hands of the morality police last September, many women walk in the streets without hijab.” – Maryam Sinaiee, “Hardliners In Iran Attack New Hijab Bill As Too Lenient,” Iran International, May 25, 2023

What is “justice” in Iran?

On approximately January 14, 2026 (it may have been a day or two before), Iranian Minister of Justice Amin Hossein Rahimi told reporters that “terrorists” were agitating from the outside, escalating an economic issue for their own purposes.

Rahimi emphasized that each person would be dealt with as they deserved.

Here is a partial translation of his comments (via Riverside AI translated transcript and Grok AI). It is edited to make sense in English:

“If someone is only present [at the protests] out of their own will, that doesn’t mean there is terrorism or destruction of people. But if someone is proven to have been involved in killing and destruction, then they are certainly a criminal….Your question must be investigated, and it definitely will be investigated. And the person who was present [only as a participant] has one punishment. And the person who killed or destroyed has one [different/severe] punishment.

I have pointed out that some people were present, but they were only present — and terrorists killed them. They are the victims. They are the victims of the terrorists. Because they [were there to protest legitimately?], but they did not destroy or kill anyone. Then the terrorists have been killed [or dealt with]. The victims of the terrorists have [suffered].

The people who were arrested — because they were [involved in violence?] — are definitely criminals, because their actions were illegal. But their crime is different [from others]. Those who are not friends with them — they [the terrorists] kill, r—, and destroy. But those who were only present [peacefully], they are definitely responsible for [something lesser? — the sentence cuts off, but likely ‘for their presence’ or ‘for participating in the gathering’].”

Now, we know that the Mossad is present and helping the Iranian people on the ground, because they’ve said so, tweeting:

“Let’s come out to the streets together. The time has come.
We are with you. Not just from afar and verbally. We are with you in the field as well.” – Mossad (Farsi), https://x.com/mossadspokesman/status/2005649986504237381?s=46

Presumably the Iranians are accusing the Israelis of being terrorists. But the reality on the ground, as we have seen, is that the people are rising up, and have been increasingly restless, angry, fed up, rebellious, and revolutionary over time. We’ve all seen the images on social media of recent demonstrations, but there have been numerous instances of public defiance before that, including women removing the hijab.

On January 13, 2026, a new video emerged from a man who says he crossed from Iran into Turkey. The post comes from a user account called “merajofficial.”

Video: Merajofficial, 1/13/2026, https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTdZ5mTDOKa/?igsh=bzJsOHdmc3MyaGJk

Meraj says that Iran is “killing everyone” and begs for foreign help, specifically President Trump.

I don’t know who this person is, but their account is based in the UK. In the video he seems traumatized and says people are being shot directly in the chest. It may be that he is a native of Iran who now lives abroad.

In the meantime, we have seen numerous photos of the Iranian people blanketing the streets to demonstrate for their freedom. Of course some of the footage is fake, and the regime is staging protests showing people burning President Trump’s photo. However, we know about the extensive human rights abuses there — such as women kidnapped off the street, imprisoned, raped and tortured — and we’ve seen the people trying to revolt many times before. They clearly are oppressed, brutally and wholly.

Now, photos are coming out of Iranians in body bags.

Yesterday President Trump issued a post on Truth Social warning Iran “will pay a big price” for the “senseless killing of protesters.” https://truthsocial.com/users/realDonaldTrump/statuses/115888317758045915

This morning, Israel Realtime Digest on Telegram reports: “U.S.-LED MILITARY OPTIONS AND DIPLOMATIC SIGNALING TOWARD IRAN ENTER ACTIVE PLANNING PHASE.” https://t.me/Israel_Realtime_Digest/40450

They further report that the players appear to be getting into position.

https://t.me/Israel_Realtime_Digest/40451

It’s clear that the military option is not just on the table, but imminent.

The time when Iran could get away with its brutality and gaslighting is coming to an end.

Written with the help of AI.