Iran's FM says nationwide protests turned violent to give Trump 'excuse' to intervene

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi’s Address on Protests – Detailed Summary

Key Concepts:

• Phases of Protest: Initial peaceful demonstrations, infiltration by violent elements, escalation to terrorist acts.
• Foreign Interference: Allegations of US and Israeli involvement in instigating violence to justify intervention.
• Terrorist Infiltration: Claims of ISIS operatives and Mossad agents infiltrating protests and targeting both security forces and civilians.
• Self-Restraint & Security Response: Government’s initial response of listening to demands followed by a security crackdown against violence.
• Information Warfare: Accusations of false narratives and propaganda disseminated by Western media and foreign intelligence agencies.

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I. Initial Response & Escalation of Protests (December 30th – January 7th)

Abbas Arachi began by outlining the initial stages of the protests, stating that demonstrations initially began peacefully, driven by economic concerns. The government responded by initiating economic reforms based on discussions with merchants and listening to protesters’ demands. This led to a temporary de-escalation on December 30th. However, protests reignited on January 1st, but with a different character. Arachi emphasized that the protests went through distinct phases, starting with calm and peaceful expressions of discontent. He noted that the government continued to engage with protesters and address their demands until January 7th.

II. The Shift to Violence & Allegations of Infiltration (January 8th – January 10th)

A significant turning point, according to Arachi, occurred on January 8th. He asserted that “terrorist operatives and terrorist groups” began infiltrating the demonstrations, introducing violence. He specifically mentioned the presence of firearms among protesters, indicating a deliberate attempt to escalate the situation. This escalation necessitated a response from security forces, which he claimed was exercised with “self-restraint.” He stated the aim was to turn peaceful demonstrations into a violent and potentially “bloody” conflict.

III. Accusations of Foreign Intervention & a Pretext for Attack

Arachi directly accused external forces, specifically the United States, of orchestrating the violence to create a pretext for intervention. He cited a statement by former US President Trump indicating a willingness to intervene if the number of casualties increased. He claimed this was a “flagrant intervention” in Iran’s sovereign affairs. Arachi presented alleged “audio messages” received by terrorist operatives instructing them to fire on protesters, security personnel, and civilians indiscriminately – including women, children, and the elderly – with the explicit goal of maximizing fatalities to provoke US intervention. He stated that many of those killed were shot from behind, suggesting deliberate targeting by these operatives.

IV. Specific Acts of Violence Attributed to Terrorist Operatives

Arachi detailed a series of violent acts attributed to these “ISIS operatives,” including:

• Targeting Security Personnel: Security personnel were reportedly killed by gunfire and through horrific methods like throat-slitting and being burned alive.
• Destruction of Property: Governmental institutions, police stations, residential homes, and commercial shops were targeted and destroyed. 200 commercial shops were reportedly set on fire in one city.
• Attacks on Emergency Services: 180 ambulance vehicles were targeted and destroyed over three days. Public transportation buses were also attacked.
• Targeting of Religious Sites: Surprisingly, 350 mosques were reportedly set on fire, an act Arachi emphasized was unthinkable for Iranians.
• Attacks on the Injured: Operatives allegedly fired upon injured individuals en route to hospitals, resulting in further fatalities.

V. Financial Support & Evidence of Foreign Involvement

Arachi claimed that operatives were “radicalized through large payments,” citing examples of 80 million and 50 million Tummans paid to individuals to target police stations. He asserted that the government possesses photographic evidence of operatives distributing firearms to protesters and documented proof linking the deaths to gunfire from these operatives. He further alleged that the Mossad was actively involved, with agents speaking Farsi infiltrating the protests and directly contributing to the high number of fatalities. He referenced Israeli media reports about preparations for operations against Iran and a statement by a former CIA head predicting Iranian protests aided by Mossad operators.

VI. Government Response & Current Situation

Arachi stated that the situation is now “under total control” due to the deployment of security personnel who confronted the “terrorist operatives.” He announced that many suspects have been arrested “red-handed” with firearms and that their confessions will be broadcast publicly. He reiterated that the government has evidence of direct orders from outside forces and intends to present this evidence to the public and international community. He also mentioned solidarity rallies in support of the Islamic Republic and the ruling regime. He emphasized that restoring stability and security is the government’s priority and that internet services will be restored once security is fully re-established.

VII. Correspondent Report & Broader Context (Al Jazeera Reporting)

Al Jazeera’s correspondent, Tohid Assad, provided context, noting that the Foreign Minister’s speech aligns with the rhetoric of other Iranian political figures, including the Supreme Leader and President. He identified three key components of the Iranian narrative: recognition of the right to peaceful protest, concerns about escalating violence, and anxieties about foreign intervention. Assad reported that over 100 security forces have been killed, while the number of protester fatalities remains unconfirmed. He also mentioned reports of arrests of individuals allegedly linked to Mossad and reiterated Trump’s previous threats of intervention. He highlighted the speaker of parliament’s warning that US bases, ships, and Israeli territories would be legitimate targets in the event of an attack on Iran.

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Notable Quotes:

• “Their goal was clear and this goal is to increase the number of victims. Why? Simply for the reason that the American president stated that in case the number of victims, in case of the number of dead is high, we will intervene.” – Abbas Arachi
• “This is not a peaceful way of demonstrating. It is nothing but terrorist attacks among the civilians starting from the 8th of January.” – Abbas Arachi
• “We will hunt down those inside Iran who were behind these terrorist acts. We will also strongly demand all those behind these terrorist operations which claimed the lives of hundreds.” – Abbas Arachi

Technical Terms:

• Tummans: Iranian currency.
• Mossad: Israeli national intelligence agency.
• ISIS: Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a terrorist organization.
• Sovereign Country: A country with independent authority and control over its internal and external affairs.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Abbas Arachi’s address presented a strong and highly critical narrative of the recent protests in Iran, framing them as a deliberate attempt by foreign powers – primarily the US and Israel – to destabilize the country through the infiltration of terrorist operatives. The speech detailed a progression from peaceful protests to violent acts, attributing the escalation to external forces seeking a pretext for intervention. The Iranian government’s response, according to Arachi, was measured and restrained initially, but ultimately necessitated a security crackdown to restore order and protect civilians. The speech served as a clear warning to external actors and a justification for the government’s actions, while simultaneously attempting to portray the protests as a manufactured crisis driven by foreign agendas. The Al Jazeera reporting provided a broader context, highlighting the consistent messaging from Iranian leadership and the escalating tensions in the region.