Iran’s foreign minister on Friday accused the United States and Israel of actively promoting the growing protest movement in the country.
He ruled out the possibility of direct foreign military intervention, despite US warnings about a crackdown on protesters. ,
During a visit to Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that foreign actors were influencing the protests.
“What the Americans and Israelis have said is that they are directly intervening in the protests in Iran,” Araghchi said.
He alleged that both the countries are trying to increase unrest. “They are trying to turn peaceful protests into divisive and violent ones,” he said.
Araghchi also ignored fears of a foreign military response, despite repeated threats from US President Donald Trump.
“With regard to the possibility of seeing military intervention against Iran, we believe it is unlikely because their previous efforts were a complete failure.”
He made this statement, as quoted by the news agency AFP.
His comments come as Iran prepares to crack down on protests that erupted late last month over the country’s deteriorating economy and the collapse of its currency.
posing the most serious challenge to the Islamic republic in years.
At least 62 people have been killed so far and more than 2,300 have been detained, according to the US-based human rights activist news agency AP. Iran’s officials have publicly signalled a strong response.
According to the AP, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Friday, rejected Trump’s support for the protesters and accused him of having
hands stained with the blood of Iranians.” State media have repeatedly branded protesters as ‘terrorists’, setting the stage for a violent crackdown.
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, warned that punishment for protesters would be “decisive, maximal, and without any legal leniency.”
Iranian state media have also alleged that “terrorist agents” linked to the US and Israel were behind incidents of arson and violence during the demonstrations.
The unrest intensified after Iran’s exiled former crown prince,
The unrest intensified after Iran’s exiled former crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, called on people to take to the streets, according to analysts cited by the AP.
Following overnight protests earlier this week, Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide internet and international phone blackout.
cutting the country off from the outside world.
Activists say the blackout has made it difficult to assess the scale of the protests and provided cover for security forces to act more forcefully.
Trump has consistently cautioned Tehran that if protesters face violent suppression, the United States would defend them.
Trump reiterated in recent interviews that he had strongly warned Iran against killing peaceful protesters.
