(CNN) – Mohammad Hassan Asfari, a member of the fact-finding committee in Iran, which is investigating cases of student poisoning across the country, which the Iranian authorities suspect are the result of “attacks”, announced on Monday that the committee is looking into 5,000 cases, most of them girls. Little girls.
Asfari, a member of parliament’s committee, said they are investigating reports of poisoning in nearly 230 schools in the 25 provinces that have had cases since late November.
He added that several tests are being conducted to determine the type of poison used in the accidents, and investigators are looking into the possible motives behind the poisoning incidents, adding that the committee does not currently have specific information regarding the type of poison.
In a statement issued on Monday by Iran’s Interior Ministry, it said, “There is no dangerous poison in the bodies of any of the students being treated in hospitals. However, researchers found doping in test results in less than 5% of the students that caused symptoms of discomfort with No permanent side effects.”
No further information was provided regarding the type of “doping” that was discovered.
Investigators said the reason more than 90% of the students felt symptoms of discomfort was due to anxiety generated by the school environment.
Meanwhile, the US State Department described the poisoning of Iranian female students as “unconscionable”, and State Department spokesman Ned Price said, in a press briefing, that reports of poisoning of Iranian school girls are “unreasonable”, and called for the formation of an international mission to investigate The facts “if these poisonings are found to be related to the participation of women and girls in the protests.”
He stated, “The whole world is very concerned regarding these poisonings. The Iranian authorities should stop suppressing the media and let them do their job. The same applies to medical professionals. The same applies to parents trying to take care of their children. There must be accountability for poisonings.” This, most importantly, must end.
Asked how the international community would determine a motive if “they presumably don’t trust any Iranian investigation,” Price said: “We’ve been able to see these reports, we’ve been able to see the videos, we’ve been able to hear first-hand testimonies.”
He continued, “I think it will become clear to the world what is happening and what is not happening, if this information continues to emerge from Iran, we will continue to follow closely and demand what is appropriate and effective.”