Iranian regime tries to crush new opposition protests in Tehran

In the Iranian capital Tehran, police on Wednesday clashed with opposition supporters during a rally. Police used tear gas and fired on demonstrators who chanted "death to dictators", according to reports. Reformist leaders had urged their supporters to attend peaceful rallies to mark 30 years since the seizure of the US Embassy in Iran.

Thousands of regime supporters turned out at the former embassy building in official an anti-American protest. However, opposition groups attempted to launch their own protests, witnesses said. Police reportedly made several arrests and used batons to disperse protesters. Iran's Revolutionary Guards had previously warned opposition groups not to stage demonstrations on Wednesday.

The regime has responded with warnings that anti-government demonstrations would be crushed. Police declared on Tuesday that only anti-American rallies were allowed and any others would be “strongly confronted”. Last week, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said that questioning the results of the presidential election in June was the “greatest crime”.