Tehran, Iran — Iranian authorities warned of severe consequences if the United States launches strikes, unveiling a defiant billboard in central Tehran as security forces announced fresh arrests tied to deadly protests and a near-total internet blackout stretched into a third week.
- Tehran showcased a billboard depicting a wrecked U.S. aircraft carrier and the message, “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.”
- Iran vowed a “comprehensive and regret-inducing response” to any attack and warned of wider insecurity across the region.
- European Union mulls listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization; Tehran urges “prudence.”
- Allies in the “axis of resistance” signal they could target U.S. and Israeli interests if war erupts.
- Authorities report new protest-related arrests as watchdogs cite thousands of deaths and tens of thousands detained.
- Internet remains largely shut; monitored, limited access offered to select businesspeople and journalists.
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The municipality on Sunday erected the billboard in Enghelab (Revolution) Square, a central Tehran junction. It shows a bird’s-eye image of a U.S. carrier with destroyed fighter jets strewn across its deck and blood in the water shaped into the American flag. The slogan, in Farsi and English, appeared aimed at the reported deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and supporting warplanes near Iranian waters.
Top military figures on Monday reiterated Iran’s readiness to confront Israel and the U.S. if struck, invoking last year’s 12-day war as a reference point. The Foreign Ministry pledged a “comprehensive and regret-inducing response,” and spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned that any resulting insecurity “will undoubtedly affect everyone.” Regional actors have reportedly appealed directly to U.S. President Donald Trump, who on Thursday said an American “armada” is sailing toward the Gulf.
As the European Union weighs whether to add the IRGC to its terrorism list after a European Parliament vote, Tehran cautioned against escalation. “More prudent European countries should be careful not to fall into the trap of the devilish temptations of non-European parties toward such an action,” Baghaei told reporters.
Iran’s allies in the so-called “axis of resistance,” who remained on the sidelines during June’s conflict, signaled a tougher stance if fighting reignites. In Iraq, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, leader of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah, threatened “total war” in the event of U.S. aggression. In Lebanon, Hezbollah official Naim Qassem again praised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a speech Monday. In Yemen, the Houthis released a video highlighting U.S. warships and previously attacked commercial vessels, implying they could again be targeted despite a Gaza cease-fire.
Inside Iran, authorities announced further moves against what they called “rioters.” In the northern province of Gilan, police chief Mohammadreza Rahmani reported 99 new arrests Sunday, alleging those detained damaged public property or led unrest both on the streets and on social media. State media said a person accused of inciting youth to protest online was detained in the port city of Bandar Anzali.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported at least 5,848 deaths during the unrest and said at least 41,283 people have been arrested nationwide. Iranian authorities have not offered comprehensive arrest figures but said last week that at least 3,117 people were killed, including 2,427 described as “innocent” protesters or security forces. These figures could not be independently verified.
Judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei told top judicial officials Monday there would be “no mercy” in prosecuting protest-related cases. He criticized calls for talks with the U.S., describing the moment as “an all-out war and economic blockade” against Iran. “Some people portray all avenues for confronting the enemy’s aggression and coercion as blocked and repeatedly prescribe negotiation with a treacherous enemy,” he said.
Connectivity remains highly restricted nearly three weeks after authorities imposed a nationwide internet shutdown. While a small number of users have tunneled out via virtual private networks and proxies, the state continues to block external access routes. Any restoration would require approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which has not offered a timeline for reconnecting the country’s roughly 90 million people.
In Tehran, officials have piloted a “tiered internet” approach, opening a small office where businesspeople with Iran Chamber of Commerce identification can obtain brief, monitored access for “business purposes” only. Users must sign forms pledging not to “misuse” the connection or face prosecution. The Culture Ministry has created a similar office for journalists. Most people remain confined to the domestic intranet, designed to provide basic services during shutdowns, though users report slow and patchy connections.
The heightened rhetoric and measures underscored how rapidly the crisis could spill beyond Iran’s borders if a military confrontation unfolds, even as internal pressure builds from ongoing arrests and the deepening information blackout.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
