A member of Iran’s Guardian Council has cautioned that if popular demands for certain freedoms, which he described as aligned with plans by adversaries, are overlooked, the country risks facing a scenario similar to Syria.

“Negligence by officials and certain groups in society could bring us to a situation like we saw in Syria,” said Mehdi Shabzandehdar, drawing parallels to the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

He said that “certain freedoms” align with enemy plans to undermine the Islamic Republic. “The freedoms that a small group pursues, which have significant conflicts of interest and great harms, must be carefully scrutinized as they align with the enemies’ plans,” he said.

He warned that if such actions weaken public attachment to Islam, the Islamic Revolution, and its values, “it will be a day of celebration for our enemies.”

His remarks come amid growing defiance of mandatory hijab laws by Iranian women and broader demands for social freedoms across the country.