Iran exported 777m barrels of crude in 2017
President Hassan Rouhani said the Iranian people will deal with a “small and minority group” of rioters and lawbreakers exploiting the protests against economic conditions in a number of cities in recent days.
Speaking in a meeting with a group of Iranian lawmakers on Monday, Rouhani said the nation would confront the small group that has used protests to chant slogans in violation of the law and people’s demands, insult the sanctities of the Islamic Revolution principles and inflict damage on public property.
“The enemy will not remain silent vis-à-vis the nation’s progress and grandeur but there are also deceived people among the protesters who have rightful demands,” he added.
He emphasized that the enemy could not tolerate Iran’s achievements in the diplomatic arena, particularly in the confrontation with the US and the Israeli regime, and explicitly announced that it would drag regional problems into Tehran.
Rouhani stressed the importance of reinforcing national unity, particularly among the three branches of the government, as the best way to tackle such issues and the people’s problems.
“I believe what has happened in recent days was apparently a type of threat which should be turned into an opportunity,” the Iranian chief executive said.
He noted that not all of those partaking in the protests were taking orders from foreigners and there were in fact a group of people who came to the streets due to “their feelings and problems.”