Iranian FM says protests part of “13th day” of US–Israeli war

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described recent unrest in the country as an extension of the 12-days US–Israeli war against Iran in June, saying violent acts during protests amounted to the “13th day” of that conflict.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said that while demonstrations initially began as protests, “terrorist elements” later infiltrated crowds with the aim of escalating violence and increasing casualties, Caliber.Az reports.

“From our perspective, January 8 was the 13th day of the American–Israeli war against us,” Araghchi said. “What the enemy failed to achieve in that war, it sought to achieve here in another way. In another way by steering tension within Iranian society."

According to the foreign minister, organised and armed groups entered demonstrations between January 8 and January 10, opening fire not only on police and security forces but also on protesters themselves. He claimed the objective was to raise the death toll and provoke international intervention.

Araghchi linked the escalation to statements by the US president warning of intervention if Iranian authorities fired on demonstrators. 

“We did not fire on demonstrators,” he said, adding that those he described as “malicious elements” were directed and funded from abroad.

He accused the groups of committing extreme acts of violence, including burning police officers alive, beheading security personnel, setting mosques on fire, and destroying public and private property. “

This has no connection whatsoever with Iranian culture,” he said.

Iran has blamed the United States and Israel for provoking the unrest, which has lasted for more than two weeks.

Araghchi also defended the government’s decision to restrict internet access, saying the measure was taken only after what he described as terrorist operations began.

“The internet was not cut off before that,” he said, claimning that authorities had initially acknowledged the protests and were in dialogue with demonstrators.

The shutdown, he said, was intended to disrupt communication and coordination among what he described as terrorist groups.

“With God’s help, their communications were cut, and three days later the situation was brought under control,” he said.

By Sabina Mammadli