A rioter dressed in Daesh-like clothing holds up a picture of an Israeli-backed fugitive in Kaj Square, northwest Tehran.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the United States shamefully exploited peaceful protests in Iran, slamming terrorist elements linked to the US and the Israeli regime for turning lawful demonstrations into violent unrest.<\/strong><\/p>\n In a letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres on Thursday, Araghchi drew attention to Daesh-like, terrorist and violent acts experienced by Iranian citizens across the country between January 9 and 10.<\/p>\n Peaceful protests over economic hardship\u00a0escalated into riots last week,\u00a0fueled\u00a0by remarks by US and Israeli leaders, with armed groups damaging public property and causing casualties among civilians and security forces.<\/p>\n Dozens of Iranian civilians and security personnel have been martyred at the hands of the rioters, who have been confirmed by the Islamic Republic\u2019s intelligence to have been in receipt of intelligence, operational, logistical, and financial support by Washington and the Israeli regime\u2019s Mossad spy agency.<\/p>\n Araghchi cited acts including beheadings, burning people alive, brutal attacks on law enforcement personnel and civilians, the widespread use of firearms, and the arson and destruction of ambulances, fire engines, medical facilities, residential buildings and religious sites.<\/p>\n According to Araghchi, such acts demonstrate a clear pattern showing that peaceful protests were hijacked by terrorists who had been trained in advance for violent actions.<\/p>\n He added that a significant number of law enforcement forces were killed or injured during the unrest, stressing that the high number of injured security personnel reflects both the restraint exercised by Iranian forces and the level of violence employed by the perpetrators.<\/p>\n The foreign minister also expressed deep concern over irresponsible and provocative statements by current and former US officials that directly incited violence and terrorist acts in Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch positions, marked by complete disregard for international law and the repeated threats to use force, in fact constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter, which prohibit incitement to terrorism, encouragement of violence, and interference in the internal affairs of other states,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n US President Donald Trump has, over the past days, repeatedly threatened to attack Iran if, as he put it, the country kills what he has termed “peaceful protesters.”<\/p>\n Araghchi referred to an explicit admission by a former US secretary of state that Israeli intelligence operatives were present among rioters, describing it as clear evidence of the Israeli regime\u2019s involvement in the terrorist violence.<\/p>\n \u201cThe shameful exploitation of peaceful protests to achieve political objectives and to endanger the lives of Iranian citizens by US officials is fully consistent with the approach the United States has adopted in imposing economic sanctions against the right to life and the right to economic development, which has led to the emergence of the current situation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The foreign minister described US claims of supporting human rights in Iran as hypocritical, pointing to nationwide rallies held on Monday, which he said conveyed a clear message of the Iranian people\u2019s opposition to foreign interference and their support for national unity, law and order.<\/p>\n Araghchi emphasized that Iran is fully aware of its human rights obligations, including the right to peaceful assembly, and has exercised maximum restraint in dealing with unrest, while remaining committed to protecting citizens, public order and national security.<\/p>\n He called\u00a0for the condemnation of all terrorist acts committed during the unrest, as well as any provocative foreign interference against Iran\u2019s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.<\/p>\n