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The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused the United States and Israel of being behind the protests that have been taking place in Iran for nearly three weeks, following the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, on September 16, days following she was arrested in Tehran by the morality police for not complying with the Islamic dress code. , while US President Joe Biden announced that new sanctions will be imposed on Tehran this week.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah, said:Ali Khamenei On Monday, he said that the protests in Iran for weeks were “planned in advance”, accusing the United States and Israel, archenemy of the Islamic Republic, of being behind them.
“I say clearly that these riots and disturbances were planned by the United States and the usurping and counterfeit Zionist regime, and their hirelings and some traitorous Iranians abroad helped them,” Khamenei added in statements carried by his official website.
For nearly three weeks, several Iranian cities have witnessed protests that followed the death of the young woman whsa amini On September 16, three days following she was arrested in Tehran by the morality police for not complying with the Islamic dress code.
The authorities deny any police involvement in the death of the young woman, describe the demonstrators as “rioters” and “terrorists” and announced the arrest of hundreds of them.
Khamenei, the supreme commander of Iran’s armed forces, stressed that the police are “obligated to confront criminals and ensure the security of society.”
He stressed that “the death of the young girl was bitter and burned my heart,” but considered that “the reaction without any investigation was abnormal.”
While he reiterated the follow-up to the investigation into Amini’s killing, he called on the judiciary to deal “with rioters in a manner consistent with their level of participation” in destroying property and undermining security.
He added, “The issue is not regarding the veil issue in Iran. Many Iranian women who do not wear full veils are among the true supporters of the Islamic Republic’s regime.”
US sanctions
In turn, the US President said on Monday that the United States is “deeply concerned regarding reports of the continuing increasing violence once morest demonstrators in Iran, including once morest students and women,” and announced that his country “will impose additional costs this week on the perpetrators of violence once morest peaceful demonstrators.”
“The United States stands with Iranian women and all Iranians whose bravery has inspired the world,” Biden said.
White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre had considered the Iranian authorities’ security crackdown “disturbing and horrific,” noting “reports that the security authorities responded to peaceful university student demonstrations with violence and widespread arrests.”
She did not suggest that the crackdown would have an impact on US diplomacy to revive the Iran nuclear deal, which former US President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018.
Iran has previously accused foreign powers of fueling the demonstrations. Last week, nine foreign nationals were arrested, including people from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland.
FRANCE 24/AFP