Iran authorises Police to shoot suspected looters amid war with US, Israel

Iran’s Police Chief, Ahmad Radan, said on Friday that security forces have been authorised to shoot suspected looters as the country grapples with the ongoing war involving Israel and the United States.

Radan disclosed this in remarks aired on state television, explaining that the directive was issued due to the prevailing wartime situation in the country.

“Because we are in wartime conditions, I have issued orders to shoot at potential thieves,” he said, warning that anyone caught looting would be “swiftly neutralised”.

He also revealed that authorities had taken steps to regulate activities online in order to maintain public order.

“We will not allow a group of paid agents to undermine the unity that the people achieved with the blood of thousands of martyrs by spreading agitation,” Radan said.

The conflict across the Middle East intensified last Saturday after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran that reportedly killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded with drone and missile attacks targeting US military bases in Gulf countries as well as Israeli territories.

According to Iran’s health ministry, nearly 1,000 people have been killed in the strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, which reportedly hit military installations, residential areas and other key infrastructure.

However, the casualty figures have not been independently verified by AFP.

Iranian retaliatory attacks have also resulted in casualties, with Israeli first responders reporting at least 10 deaths in Israel. The United States military has also confirmed that six of its personnel have been killed since the conflict began.