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News > World

Iran's Khamenei Says Nation's 'Enemies' are Behind Protests

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after an earthquake that hit Iran in November.

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after an earthquake that hit Iran in November. | Photo: Reuters

Published 2 January 2018
Opinion

So far, the five-day protests have claimed the lives of 22 people.  

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blamed Iran's "enemies" for recent protests in the country and the violent turn they have taken. 

RELATED: 
Tehran Slams ‘Hypocritical’ and ‘Opportunist’ US Support of Iranian Protesters

His statements add to other Iranian leaders who have denounced foreign involvement.

Among them are Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who linked the recent developments to U.S. and Israeli interventionism. 

"Enemies of Iran could not tolerate the country's achievements in the diplomatic arena, particularly in the confrontation with the U.S. and the Israeli regime."

In a weekly meeting with groups of families of Iranian soldiers who fought and died during 1980-1988 war with Iraq, Khamenei blamed the nation's "enemies" for attempting to "infiltrate and strike the Iranian nation."

Protests began last Thursday in the city of Mashhad against economic conditions and a spike in certain food costs. Since then, protests have spread to other cities and turned violent as small groups of protesters have used armed force to attempt to seize police and military buildings. So far, 22 people, including members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Police, have been killed. 

On Sunday, a regional official said that Wahhabi groups and foreign intelligence services seem to be behind the killings. However, the circumstances of the most recent deaths remain unclear and unconfirmed.   

The protests have been widely seized on and reported by Western media, and have received the praise of U.S. and Israeli politicians, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

In his latest tweet, Trump praised the people of Iran who "are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime" and warned "the U.S. is watching!" U.S. handling of protests in Iran reveals its political motivations, especially when compared to U.S. silence in regards to massive demonstrations in Honduras against contested presidential elections, in which state forces have killed at least 30 protesters.  

 

On his part, Netanyahu denied any involvement in the protests through a video posted on Twitter and used the platform to "wish the Iranian people success in their noble quest for freedom." 

Iran's Foreign Ministry has responded to Trump's messages, urging him to focus on U.S. issues such as mass shootings, homelessness and hunger. "Instead of wasting his time on posting useless and insulting tweets about other nations and countries, Trump had better address his country's domestic affairs and issues," spokesperson Bahram Qassemi said.  

Rallies in support of Iran's leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been held across the country to criticize the "seditious" character of anti-government protests and U.S. sanctions on Iran. These rallies have been largely underreported.

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