Iran says it has identified orchestrators behind unrest, moves to file lawsuits

Iran's judiciary said on Sunday that it has identified the key orchestrators behind recent unrest in the country and is moving forward with legal proceedings against those responsible.

Iran's judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir told a press conference that the incidents were not "simple disturbances," but had evolved into what he characterized as "terrorist acts," driven by sustained actions promoted by Western leaders.

He said Iranian judicial, law enforcement and security agencies are working to differentiate between misled individuals, organized behind-the-scenes operatives and terrorist elements.

Jahangir added that authorities are also identifying individuals allegedly linked to foreign intelligence agencies, including Israel's intelligence service Mossad. He said the leaders of both domestic and foreign networks involved have been identified, with cases advancing in accordance with Iranian law. Legal action is being initiated against these individuals.

The judiciary spokesperson also said Iran is compiling evidence related to alleged crimes committed by the United States and Israel during the Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025, with plans to submit the material to international courts.

Protests in Iran erupted on December 28 and later turned violent, with demonstrators attacking police officers, government buildings and public facilities. Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of planning and inciting the violence.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, speaking in Tehran on January 17, condemned the unrest, accusing the United States of orchestrating the disturbances and causing extensive damage. He labeled Trump a "criminal," holding him responsible for casualties and damages sustained during recent periods of domestic unrest in Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed the accusations. During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 16, he said the United States and Israel were "directly involved" in the unrest. He said the alleged actions had been defeated by the Iranian people, adding that the exposure of the plots demonstrated national unity.

Since the protests began, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran, though he said last Thursday that he did not intend to carry out an attack. On Saturday, Trump told Politico that it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran."

In response, Pezeshkian warned on Sunday that any attack on Supreme Leader Khamenei would be regarded as a declaration of "all-out war" against the Iranian nation. He also blamed Washington for Iran's economic hardships, citing long-standing hostility and what he described as "inhumane sanctions" imposed by the United States and its allies.

Relations between Tehran and Washington have remained strained since Trump's return to the White House, marked by the continuation of the "maximum pressure" policy and frequent verbal confrontations between the two sides.