Iran treads lightly in a culture of martyrs

Both the government and the protesters seem eager to avoid an all-out confrontation. Not only would a Tiananmen Square-style massacre sully officials' claims to popular legitimacy, it would create a whole new set of martyrs who could further galvanize a popular movement. Such killings paved the way for the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Most of the violence has been inflicted by semiofficial militias such as the Basiji or the secretive Ansar-e Hezbollah, which have reportedly been responsible for at least 12 deaths in the last five days.

Perhaps more perilous for authorities is the possibility that some soldiers, security officials and Revolutionary Guardsmen might refuse orders to fire on protesters, creating a dangerous rift within the security apparatuses.

"I would never do it," said Hossein, a 23-year-old member of the security forces who said he and many of his friends at the military base where he serves support the marchers. "Maybe someone would, but I would never fire on any of these people myself."

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daragahi@latimes.com

Mostaghim is a special correspondent.