TEHRAN — Iran’s top police commander says the country’s security forces and much of the public remain firmly committed to defending the Islamic Republic, describing the recent wave of unrest as a failed attempt by foreign-backed actors to fracture Iranian society.

Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander of Iran’s Law Enforcement Command, told senior police officials on Sunday that the country’s institutions would stand their ground “at any cost” in the face of externally driven efforts to destabilize the nation.

“Our adversaries must understand that we see ourselves as defenders of the Islamic Revolution,” General Radan said. “We will protect this system with resolve, even at the cost of our lives.”

Violence swept through parts of Iran on January 8 and 9, following days of protests initially triggered by economic grievances, including rising living costs stemming from the lingering impact of Western sanctions. Those demonstrations, which began on December 28 while government officials were engaged in talks with protest representatives, were overtaken by armed groups that carried out coordinated attacks on security forces and civilians, as well as acts of sabotage against public infrastructure and private property.

General Radan said the unrest was intended to drive a wedge between the public and the political system but argued that the effort ultimately failed. He credited public vigilance and the sacrifices of police and other security personnel for preventing broader instability.

“The people played a decisive role,” he said, adding that Iranians had remained aligned with the Islamic Republic for nearly five decades despite war, sanctions and economic pressure. Millions of Iranians took to the streets earlier this month to voice support for the government. 

In recent days, security forces have detained dozens of individuals belonging to armed cells linked to foreign intelligence services and Western-based opposition networks. Several operations have resulted in the seizure of weapons, explosives and communications equipment in multiple provinces. Further investigations showed that some of those arrested had received training or financial support from outside the country. Iranian intelligence officials say investigations are continuing and additional suspects are being sought.