BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 12. We have witnessed
the presence of armed militants among protesters during
demonstrations on January 8-10, said the Iranian Foreign Minister,
Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Trend reports.
At a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Araghchi
asserted that the involvement of armed individuals in the protests
seemed to be a coordinated effort to distort the protests' true
objectives, thereby instigating widespread social unrest and
disorder across the nation.
The minister further disclosed that these armed demonstrators
had engaged in violent acts, including firing on law enforcement
officers and targeting civilians, with the explicit intention of
escalating casualties. He emphasized that a substantial body of
documents and evidence substantiates these allegations.
Araghchi also expressed sharp criticism of foreign interference,
referencing U.S. President Donald Trump's earlier statement that
foreign intervention would be considered if Iranian citizens were
harmed. "This itself constitutes a blatant violation of national
sovereignty," he remarked.
The protests, which began in late December, were sparked by the
severe depreciation of the national currency, rising inflation, and
other economic difficulties. While casualties have been reported,
the exact numbers remain undisclosed.
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