Iran’s President Blames ‘Rioters’ As Protest Toll Crosses 500; Israel Supports ‘Freedom Struggle’
Amid widespread protests across Iran, President Masoud Pezeshkian made his first televised remarks on the chaos, where he said that officials are willing to listen to protesters, but rioters are trying to “destroy the entire society."
“The people (of Iran) should not allow rioters to disrupt society. The people should believe that we (the government) want to establish justice," he told state broadcaster IRIB. “If someone who belongs to this country protests, we hear those protests, we listen, and we address them. However, our highest duty is to not allow rioters to come and disrupt the society."
The Iranian President also accused of Israel and the United States of attempting to destabilising the country. “The US and Israel are sitting there, giving instructions to these people, telling them: go ahead, we are backing you. The same ones who struck this country and killed our young people and our children are now giving them orders, telling them: you do this work, we are with you," he added.
Pezeshkian also asserted that Iran will not allow any foreigners to sow seeds of discord among the nation, and no fellow citizen should create chaos inside the country. Targeting US President Donald Trump, Pezeshkian said he should be ashamed of what he is doing in Venezuela, Gaza and elsewhere.
“Families, I ask you: do not allow your young children to join rioters and terrorists who behead people and kill others," Pezeshkian appealed to protesting Iranians.
Death Toll Crosses 500
More than 500 people have believed to have been killed as the protests, which began over economic grievances, turned into a direct challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership. Demonstrations have continued for several nights across multiple cities, drawing growing international attention and concern.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which relies on activists in Iran cross-checking information, said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested in two weeks of unrest. State TV aired footage of dozens of body bags on the ground at the Tehran coroner’s office on Sunday, saying the dead were victims of events caused by “armed terrorists", Reuters reported.
Several protesters hit the streets in large numbers despite the internet blackout. The US-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said it had received “eyewitness accounts and credible reports indicating that hundreds of protesters have been killed across Iran during the current internet shutdown".
Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani drew a line between protests over economic hardship, which he called “completely understandable", and “riots", accusing them of actions “very similar to the methods of terrorist groups", according to the Tasnim news agency.
Israel Expresses Solidarity With Protesters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking during a cabinet meeting, said Israel was closely monitoring developments. “We all hope that the Persian nation will soon be freed from the yoke of tyranny," he said.
Moreover, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel supports the Iranian people in what he described as their “struggle for freedom" and wished them success. “We think they deserve freedom… We don’t have any hostility with the people of Iran," he added. Israel’s military said it was monitoring developments and was ready to respond “with power if need be".
Iran’s parliament speaker warned the US military and Israel would be “legitimate targets" if America strikes the Islamic Republic, amid repeated threats by US President Trump. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf directly threatened Israel, “the occupied territory" as he referred to it, and the US military, possibly with a preemptive strike.
Khameini Hits Back At Trump’s Warning
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday took a sharp swipe at Trump, telling him to “manage his own country" after the American leader said the United States was “ready to help" amid escalating anti-government protests.
“The President of the United States declared that if the Iranian government did this or that, he would side with the rioters. The rioters have placed their hopes in him. If he is so competent, let him manage his own country then," Khamenei wrote.
Trump has spoken out strongly in favour of the protesters and warned Iranian authorities against using deadly force. He has even threatened military action “if they start killing people", a statement that further raised tensions between Washington and Tehran.
(with inputs from agencies)
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