IRGC Threatens Crackdown on Gasoline Price-hike Protesters

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is threatening to intervene to stop anti-government protests that broke out on Friday in reaction to an announcement that an end to subsidized gasoline had driven up the cost by 50 percent. “If necessary, we will take decisive and revolutionary action,” the IRGC said on Monday in a statement, according to official media outlets. At least three protesters are reported to have been killed in clashes with security forces, while one police officer was said to have died. Iran has long subsidized gasoline and other fuels, and wants to divert these funds to other areas of the economy adversely impacted by harsh US sanctions. A partial shutdown of the country’s internet services was reported to have remained in force on Monday, with irate citizens having used social media to spread word of the protests.