By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Witness accounts describe the use of unconventional gases against protestors in Iran, causing symptoms far more severe than those associated with standard tear gas. These symptoms included intense burning, respiratory distress, and sudden loss of movement, leading to collapse. Eyewitnesses reported the gases were deployed in crowded areas and escape routes, often coinciding with gunfire. The reported incidents occurred in multiple cities, with videos from Sabzevar showing security forces equipped with protective gear designed for hazardous chemical materials.
Read the original article here
People collapsed: mystery chemicals lobbed at Iran protestors – eyewitnesses. Right, so, it’s just another day ending in ‘Y’, and another report of Iran deploying… well, let’s call them “mystery chemicals” against its own people. It’s a grim reality, and honestly, not a surprising one given the country’s track record on human rights. The details are still emerging, but eyewitness accounts describe people collapsing, which immediately raises red flags. It’s a chilling situation, and the fact that we’re even having this conversation speaks volumes about the tactics being used.
These same gases used to disperse protesters **are war crimes if used in warfare according to the Chemical Warfare Convention,** which is a critical point. Of course, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) isn’t binding for crowd dispersal, so that offers a rather disturbing loophole. The situation underscores the complexities of international law and its application, particularly when it comes to internal conflicts. It’s a grim reality when the line between acceptable crowd control and potential war crimes becomes so blurry.
However, the reported characteristics of the chemicals don’t seem to align with the effects of well-known agents like nerve, blood, or blister agents. It’s more likely a cocktail of things, probably including CS gas, which is commonly used for crowd control, but also other irritants to amplify the effects. The goal seems to be incapacitation, not necessarily lethal force, though that doesn’t make it any less reprehensible.
In any case, the whole situation is a nightmare for Iranians, and my thoughts go out to them. I really hope a peaceful resolution can be found soon. The question remains: what *exactly* are these “mystery chemicals”? Some people seem to believe that Iran has zero love for its people and that the country would use anything to silence them. The situation has shades of the Syrian conflict, where chemical weapons were sadly utilized.
Based on the accounts, chlorine gas is suspected as one of the agents used. The described smell, the visible color of the agent, and the reported symptoms all seem to align with chlorine gas exposure. Another factor supporting this is the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is allegedly using during deployment, as this would be necessary to protect themselves from chlorine gas poisoning. The fact that the regime is potentially using known poisons should be taken very seriously.
The idea of sonic weapons is also being raised as a possibility in this context. These are non-lethal weapons that employ sound waves, which is obviously very unsettling. It’s a reminder of how quickly technology is evolving and how it can be used for crowd control. We’ve seen similar tactics elsewhere, like Serbia’s deployment of an “acoustic device.” The deployment of these devices is another indication that Iran is possibly taking lessons from other regimes, which are also not known for their respect for human rights.
It also raises the disturbing precedent of governments using chemical weapons on their own citizens, a deeply unsettling thought. It seems like the world is moving in the wrong direction and some governments have zero qualms using chemical weapons on their citizens, whether it’s America or anywhere else. The drama within our own country is unfortunately overshadowing everything else right now, and dominating news cycles in the US. The news coverage here is a tragedy.
But let’s not lose sight of what is happening. The use of these kinds of agents against protestors is just plain wrong. It’s a reminder of how quickly the situation can escalate, and the importance of international scrutiny. This is a very sensitive situation, and I hope more information comes out soon.