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Thu, Feb 17, 2011 | DebkaFile

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a veteran Basiji, is commander of the paramilitary Basij force.

Iranian Crackdown on Pro-Democracy Protests

In Tehran Debkafile’s Iranian sources report that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad early Thursday conferred with Revolutionary Guards and Basij leaders on ways to further crack down on opposition protests after two days of harsh measures.

Since Monday, 1,400 protesters have been arrested and their whereabouts are unknown. At least two died of bullet wounds.

The leaders of Iran’s Islamic regime fear that the youngsters in Iranian cities will catch fire from the uprisings in Arab countries and be willing to fight for its overthrow.

As a key deterrent, an increase in the number of executions of dissidents was agreed between Ahmadinejad, most of his aides, Prosecutor General Mohseni-Ejehee, the commander Internal Security Forces, Mohammad Reza Radan, commander of the Basij (Mobilisation) force Mohammad Reza Naghdi, and the ultra-radical Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Chairman of the Constitution Committee.

This measure later won the support of Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Majlis, who on Wednesday led 200 deputies in shouting for the two opposition Green Movement leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi to be put to death.

Debkafile’s sources report: In the coming days, the world will be shown millions of young Iranians pouring into the streets of Tehran and other cities shouting pro-government slogans – alongside the executions of dozens of young Iranian democracy-seekers.

By killing them, the regime will try and break the back of the Mousavi-Karroubi opposition movement. Judging on past form, they will not be deterred by international condemnation.