Iranian leaders blame foreign foes for protests
AS NATIONWIDE protests have shaken Iran over the last week, the Islamic Republic increasingly has blamed its foreign foes for fomenting the unrest.
So far, Tehran has not offered any evidence to support that claim, though Iran’s opponents throughout the Middle East and elsewhere are looking on at the demonstrations with hope they’ll force changes in its theocratic government.
Here’s a look at what’s been said, what’s known and what remains unknown:
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a speech to veterans and their families: “The enemy is waiting for an opportunity, for a crack through which it can infiltrate. Look at the recent days’ incidents. All those who are at odds with the Islamic Republic have utilised various means, including money, weapon, politics and intelligence apparatus, to create problems for the Islamic system, the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution. “
The facts: Protests began December 28 in the northeastern city of Mashhad, sparked by a jump in food prices, and initially focused on economic issues. The US government believes that hardliners initiated the demonstrations as a means to pressure President Hassan Rouhani, a relatively moderate cleric within Iran’s political system. NATIONWIDE PROTEST
The protests then went nationwide, with calls for the overthrow of the entire government. They spread to smaller and smaller towns and cities in the Iranian countryside, and peaceful protests also gave way to violent unrest in some places.
Iran on Thursday directly blamed a CIA official for the protests. The Trump administration has denied having any hand in the protests, and the CIA declined to comment. President Donald Trump has thrown moral support to the protesters in tweets and has promised more concrete backing, floating possible new sanctions against Iran if it violates human rights in cracking down. But so far, his administration has taken no steps.
Iranian authorities announced the arrest of a protest leader initially described as European, who later was identified as an Iranian dual national. Dual nationalities are not uncommon in Iran, so the arrest would hardly be proof of meddling by foreign powers. However, the Iranian exile group, Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, supporters of exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and other activists abroad, have sought to keep up the protests’ momentum by using social media to spread videos and calls for people to join. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, long a hawk on Iran, also has been applauding the protests.