Trying to recover after a week of mass protests over rising petrol prices, Iran’s Government has threatened a “crushing response” to countries whom it claims instigated the demonstrations.
First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri (pictured) said on Saturday:
Some countries in the region should know that they will be not have an easy life in the region if clues are found that show they intervened to create unrest in Iran. Iran is not a country to deal with such pranks. Iran must be treated with utmost courtesy,
If it turns out that others have interfered in Iran’s internal affairs to harm the Iranian nation, they will certainly receive a crushing response.
Protesters quickly gathered across Iran last weekend, after the Government announced at midnight on Friday that the price of subsidized petrol would be increased by 50%. Trying to play down the local nature of the demonstrations, officials — including the Supreme Leader and President Hassan Rouhani — blamed the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, relatives of the late Shah, and the “terrorist” Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization.
Shutting down the Internet to break up communications and limit news of the demonstrations, Rouhani and other officials are now proclaiming victory. However, Friday Prayer leaders betrayed ongoing concerns by saying the Internet should remain blocked — despite Government claims of restoration of some service in 10 provinces — and a military commander said it was a “miracle” that the protests, which he said was “a full-fledged world war against the system”, had been quelled.
See Iran Daily, Nov 23: Friday Prayer Leaders, Commander Betray Worries Over Mass Protests
Amnesty International said on Tuesday that at least 106 people, most of them protesters, had been killed. Iranian authorities said more than 1,000 people were arrested and scores of banks — targeted amid public anger over corruption — and Government buildings were burnt.
Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said on Saturday that preliminary examinations of detained individuals will be finished in the next 48 hours.
“Those proven innocent will be released as soon as possible; however, those who have committed crimes and have numerous infractions will be swiftly categorized [for further criminal procedures],” Montazeri said.
The judiciary declared on Friday that 100 “ringleaders” had been seized by the Revolutionary Guards.