Khaberni - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that the protests which erupted on December 28, began "peaceful and legitimate but quickly deviated from their path and turned into a terrorist war on the country".
In a press statement today, Monday, he added that the subsequent developments of those demonstrations witnessed some movements sliding towards violence, noting that his country has documents proving the intervention of the United States and Israel in what he described as "the terrorist movement" accompanying the recent protests.
Araqchi confirmed that elements from the Israeli foreign intelligence service "(Mossad) accompanied the protests, and their interventions were a reason for the acts of violence and killing witnessed in the country.
The Iranian minister noted that the security forces dealt with the demonstrations "calmly and with restraint", before "armed terrorist groups" entered among the protesters to divert the marches from their original course, according to him.
Araqchi confirmed that the government immediately commenced discussions with the relevant parties and listened to the demands of the protesters.
He explained that the authorities detected "the infiltration of armed terrorist groups" into the ranks of the demonstrators aiming to divert the marches from their original path, indicating that his country possesses evidence on security forces being subjected to gunfire intended to increase the casualty toll.
The Iranian minister emphasized that the security forces control all Iranian territory and that there is precise intelligence monitoring, assuring that his country would pursue everyone involved in these events, both domestically and internationally.
He added that the positions of some Western countries focused on condemning the police instead of terrorism, urging countries that have taken incorrect stances regarding the protests to retract them.
He said that Tehran has recordings of voice messages directed at "terrorist" elements ordering them to fire on civilians and security forces.
The foreign minister pointed out that most of the deceased were shot from behind.
Araqchi indicated that armed elements also targeted government buildings, police stations, and commercial establishments, confirming the existence of photos documenting the distribution of weapons to demonstrators.
The minister stated that what is currently happening "is no longer demonstrations, but a terrorist war against the country," also criticizing President Donald Trump's statements about the protests, considering them an interference in Iran's internal affairs.
