Five years after the bloody conflicts that erupted following the 2009 presidential elections, the new commander of the Special Unit of the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) of the Islamic Republic of Iran discussed the current state of anti-riot forces, comparing them with 2009, during an interview with Tasnim News, a news agency with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In July 2014, the commander of Esfahan Law Enforcement Forces, Hassan Karami, was chosen as the head of the Special Unit, which was one of the main forces involved in suppressing Green Movement followers during the 2009 post-election unrest.

Karami said their equipment has been updated since 2009. “At the time of the sedition of 2009, we did not have secure vehicles that could enter the crowd without being damaged. There was always the possibility of damage to our personnel,” he said. ”Now, however, we are equipped with secure vehicles when we need to control the riots.”

Karami also mentioned that they now have equipment including tear gas, laughing gas and electronic loud noises at their disposal. “Previously, we had a type of water spray that was called ‘heavy’ water spray. Now, however, we have five different types of water sprays, 18 tons, 5 tons and 2 tons, as well as four-wheeled engines. We have a variety of water sprays and each of them can be used depending on the situation.”