Iranian envoy says protests were people’s right, blames West for violence

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghaddam said that the recent protests in Iran were the people’s right, and the Iranian government held talks with them.

“Ater the protests, US and Western media incited people and turned the demonstrations violent. He said that on January 7, statements by Trump and Netanyahu amounted to interference in Iran’s internal affairs.

Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghaddam visited the Rehmatul Lil Alameen Authority, where he said that the situation changed on January 7 and weapons came into the hands of people.

He said there was mass killing and beheadings, and many bodies could no longer be identified and would now be identified through DNA. He said brutal acts were carried out, with attacks on mosques and imambargahs. These were among the worst incidents in Iran’s history.

He said nurses were burned alive in hospitals and worshippers were burned alive in mosques. He said the situation is now fully under control, though it took three days to do so.

At present, there are no protests in Iran, but threats are being issued by the United States and Israel, he said.

He said Iran tells the US and Israel to try attacking if they can. He said the Iranian military is fully prepared and the country is on high alert. Iran has closed its airspace. He said Iran does not seek war, but if war is imposed, it will respond forcefully.

Meanwhile, signs of an escalating crisis emerged across the Middle East on Wednesday as the United States began reducing its personnel presence at key regional military installations, while Iran warned it would respond forcefully if Washington launched an attack.

The heightened tensions follow weeks of unrest inside Iran, where violent protests erupted after a sharp collapse in the national currency. President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted at possible intervention, saying earlier this week that Washington would support demonstrators and promising “decisive action” should executions of protesters continue.