Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei once again blamed the foreign "enemy" for the current nationwide protests, calling them "scattered riots" on Wednesday, as security forces intensified its violent crackdown force against the people.
"The issue of the enemies’ interference in the recent street riots in Iran is recognized by everyone," Khamenei said, in remarks made to a group of officials.
The demonstrations over the death of Mahsa Amini have become one of the greatest challenges to Iranian officials since the country’s 2009 Green Movement protests.
Protesters have included striking oil workers, high school students and women marching without their mandatory headscarves, or hijabs.
Iranian security forces have unsuccessfully tried to restrict the ability of protesters to organize, and for journalists to report on what is happening, by arresting dozens of journalists and through an online crackdown which has restricted internet access and blocked social media apps, silencing celebrities and ordinary Iranians who have voiced their support for the movement via social media.
"These scattered riots are the passive and clumsy design of the enemy against the great and innovative developments and movements of the Iranian nation," Khamenei said.
"The Iranian nation has carried out several great movements [in recent times] that are 180 degrees against the policies of global arrogant powers," he added, referring indirectly to the United States and allied countries. "That is why they had to react," he added.
"The enemy saw the Iranian nation’s successes and its emergence in the region and beyond. They could not tolerate it and tried to plan riots in Iran in early October. But what is important is that the enemy’s action was reactive. It is the Iranian nation that has taken the initiative," Khamenei said.
The leader also repeated remarks he made last week, about the protesters, who are mainly women, that there are different kinds of people among them and they should be treated differently.
"Those who participated in the riots are not all of the same type. Some are agents of or in line with the enemy. Others are just agitated. They should not be judged the same."
The new round of anti-government protests was sparked by the death in police custody of Amini who was arrested for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly and violating the country's strict dress code.
Iranian women have been required to wear the hijab in public since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but president Ebrahim Raisi signed an order on August 15 to enforce the country’s dress code law with a new list of restrictions.
Iran has witnessed waves of anti-government protests over recent years. In November 2019, the country saw the deadliest violence since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as protests erupted over gas price hikes. Hundreds were reportedly killed at that time.
A group of senior Tories have been holding discussions + have decided the following: the sacking of @KwasiKwarteng will prompt them to come out publicly next week + call on @trussliz to resign. My source: “These are serious people. The PM will find it difficult to survive.”
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) October 14, 2022
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