Khamenei blames hijab riots on ‘Zionist regime’ and US
The recent riots in Iran in response to the killing of Mahsa Amini are “plots by the US and Zionist regime [Israel],” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has claimed.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for military cadets at Imam Hassan Officer Training University on Monday, Khamenei said that the recent riots in the country, which have left at least 100 protestors dead, are “designed by the US and the Zionist regime.”
Referring to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was beaten to death by the local modesty police for wearing her hijab head covering improperly, Khamenei said that “the incident deeply saddened us, but the reaction to this incident without investigation – coming to streets, removing other women’s hijab, setting fire to mosques, people’s cars, was not normal.”
A previous Intelligence Ministry report claimed that the British, Saudis and other countries are involved in the protests behind the scenes.
Despite the regime’s claims about a “clarification on the circumstances” surrounding Amini’s death, violent protests have led to attacks on security officers and acts of vandalism against public property, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) being deployed on the streets of several cities.
The Majles, Iran’s parliament, has also called on the IRGC to take revenge for the protests.
TPS
