Iran’s supreme leader blames protests on meddling by ‘enemies’ as death toll hits 21
TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader on Tuesday accused the country’s enemies of stirring unrest, as the death toll from anti-government demonstrations rose to 21.
On the sixth day of protests, riot police were out in force in several cities, footage on social media showed, as security forces struggle to contain the boldest challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership since unrest in 2009.
More than 450 protesters were arrested in the capital in the last three days, Tehran’s deputy provincial governor said, and hundreds of others were detained around the country.
In his first reaction to the unrest, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: “In recent days, enemies of Iran used different tools including cash, weapons, politics and intelligence apparatus to create troubles for the Islamic Republic.” He did not mention any ene- mies by name but Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said the US, Britain and Saudi Arabia were behind the riots.
“Saudis will receive Iran’s response and they know how serious it can be,” Shamkhani was quoted as saying by Tasnim news.
Khamenei said on his website he would address the nation about the events “when the time is right”.
US President Donald Trump, who has been tweeting daily in support of the protesters, said on Tuesday: “The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime... The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The US is watching!” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said: “Instead of wasting his time by publishing offensive tweets to other nations, Trump should focus on internal affairs of America.”