Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the protests that erupted last December 28 began “peaceful and legitimate but quickly deviated from their course and turned into a terrorist war against the country.”
He added, in press statements on Monday, that developments following those demonstrations saw some movements slide toward violence, noting that these developments pose a threat to the country’s internal security.
Araghchi accused Israeli Mossad operatives of accompanying the protests and considered their interference to be the main cause for the spread of violence and killings that occurred in some areas. He stressed the existence of strong evidence linking these groups to foreign institutions hostile to Iran.
The Iranian minister pointed out that security forces dealt with the demonstrations with “calm and self-restraint,” before “armed terrorist” groups entered the ranks of the protesters to divert the marches from their original path, according to his statement. He emphasized that the security response came as a reaction to the assaults launched by these groups on citizen security and public property.
Araghchi confirmed that the government immediately initiated talks with relevant parties and listened to the protesters’ demands, noting that it is seeking peaceful solutions to the crisis.
He explained that authorities monitored the “infiltration of armed terrorist groups” into the ranks of protesters with the aim of diverting the marches from their original path, pointing out that his country possesses definitive evidence of security forces being fired upon with the intent of increasing the death toll. He said that terrorists used systematic tactics to destabilize the situation.
Evidence and Criticism
He stated that Tehran possesses recordings of voice messages sent to “terrorist” elements ordering them to fire on civilians and security forces, asserting that this evidence will reveal the threads of the conspiracy against Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Minister noted that most of the deceased were hit by bullets fired from behind, which proves the terrorists’ targeting of security forces rather than peaceful participants in the demonstrations.
Araghchi pointed out that armed elements also targeted government buildings, police headquarters, and commercial shops, confirming the existence of photos documenting the distribution of weapons to protesters, which supports the government’s claims regarding foreign intervention.
The minister said that what is happening now “is no longer demonstrations, but a terrorist war against the country,” warning of the consequences of continuing this type of violence. He also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements regarding the protests, considering them a flagrant interference in Iran’s internal affairs that violates the principles of respecting national sovereignty.
Iran has been witnessing protests over living conditions for the third week amid a total internet shutdown. In several demonstrations, slogans opposing the authorities were raised, while the government works to restore calm and meet some legitimate demands.
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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