Anti-regime media and some social media users claimed that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have deployed to Iran to support the Iranian regime's crackdown on protests. The militias’ deployments, if true, could bolster the regime’s efforts to contain the protests. Iraqi militias may also be more willing than Iranian security forces to use violence and lethal force against protesters given that they lack personal connections to the Iranian communities that are protesting. CTP-ISW is unable to verify these reports. Anti-regime media has circulated similar reports during previous waves of protests, including during the Masha Amini protest movement in 2022. (1/2)