Show of Force Upends Iran Protests

 

“The protesters who filled the streets of Tehran are gone, replaced by security forces and reminders of the violence used by the regime to suppress a national uprising aimed at ending its rule.

 

Members of the Basij pro-government militia patrolled the streets of Tehran on motorbikes in recent days, with some shouting, "Don't come out! We'll shoot you!" residents of the capital said. A medical student in Tehran said he counted the charred remains of at least five banks. Many shops remain closed. Universities, a hotbed of protests, are still closed.

 

The quiet reflects the success of the regime's quick and deadly efforts to stop the biggest challenge to its four decades in power.

 

There have been only two new protests across Iranian cities since early last week, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a U.S.-based group.

 

At least 3,308 have died in the unrest, almost all of them protesters, and more than 24,000 have been arrested, the rights group said.

 

The government is aiming to show some signs of normalcy returning. State broadcaster IRIB showed footage of schools reopening on Sunday after a weeklong closure.

 

IRIB also said Tehran's stock market main index had jumped by 79,000 points on Sunday.

 

Authorities said they are easing an internet shutdown that started on Jan 8. But Iranians trying to reach relatives said they are still facing problems.

 

Tehran is also continuing its crackdown. Asghar Jahangiri, the spokesperson for Iran's judiciary, said on Sunday that it had arrested individuals connected to Israel's Mossad intelligence services who were involved in the protests.

 

Residents report that normal is still a way off. Tajrish, an affluent neighborhood of North Tehran normally known as the capital's top dating spot, has been eerily quiet in the past week, a resident said. Most shops are closed except for local grocery shops, he said, and even those close early.

 

Armed security forces have taken over the streets of several cities across the country, imposing what some Iranians have described as unofficial martial law.

 

In Karaj, an industrial town to the west of Tehran, police loudspeakers are blasting calls to people to stay away from their windows, said Sahar Ajdamsani, an Iranian activist who spoke to a local resident.

 

In the holy city of Mashhad, which saw some of the biggest protests, footage filmed earlier in the week showed a heavy police presence.

 

Armored vehicles were stationed at key entry points along with men sporting black uniforms and helmets, according to a video verified by Storyful, which is owned by News Corp, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal.

 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday blamed President Trump for the protester deaths.

 

"We find the U.S. President guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation," he said in a post on X. Trump responded in an interview with Politico by saying that Khamenei was a "sick man" and that it was time for new leadership in Iran.

 

Trump had encouraged protesters to take to the streets and repeatedly threatened to intervene if Iran began killing them.

 

But he stepped back from military action at the end of last week. Advisers told him the U.S. didn't have enough forces in the region to deal a substantial blow to the regime and counter retaliatory strikes, and Trump opted to hold off until more firepower could be brought to bear, officials told the Journal.” [1]

 

These forces are blocking Venezuela now.

 

In January 2026, President Trump initiated major military actions against Venezuela, culminating in a significant operation that captured the regime's leadership. While the specific quote regarding a lack of forces was attributed to a decision to hold off on a second wave of strikes against Iran earlier in the month, the situation in Venezuela remains a primary focus of U.S. military power.

 

Current U.S. Military Actions in Venezuela (January 2026)

 

    Capture of Nicolás Maduro: On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces launched Operation Absolute Resolve, a large-scale strike in Caracas that captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were transported to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.

 

    Maritime Blockade: The U.S. has established a maritime quarantine under Operation Southern Spear. A naval task force, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, is currently blocking sanctioned oil tankers from leaving Venezuela to prevent revenue from reaching the regime.

 

    "Carrot and Stick" Strategy: Despite the capture of Maduro, Trump has maintained a "large military presence offshore" to pressure the remaining government under acting president Delcy Rodríguez.

 

    Holding Off on Further Strikes: On January 9, 2026, Trump announced he had canceled a planned "second wave of attacks" against Venezuela, citing cooperation from the new government regarding prisoner releases and oil infrastructure. However, he emphasized that "all ships will stay in place" for continued security and leverage.

 

Parallel Situation with Iran

The specific report from The Wall Street Journal regarding advisers warning of insufficient forces to "deal a substantial blow to the regime" and counter retaliatory strikes was linked to Iran following recent protests and threats of military intervention there in mid-January 2026. In that theater, Trump opted for economic pressure and tariffs instead of immediate military action while waiting for more firepower to be positioned.

 

1. World News: Show of Force Upends Iran Protests. Faucon, Benoit; Malsin, Jared; Stancati, Margherita.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 20 Jan 2026: A6.