Iranian leader accuses the US and Israel of promoting protests | Multimedia

The leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, assured on Monday that the recent disturbances in the Persian country have been premeditated and provoked by the United States and Israel to generate insecurity in the country.

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“I say frankly that these events have been engineered by the United States, the Zionist regime and their supporters. His main problem with a strong and independent Iran is the advancement of the country," the Ayatollah said.

The Iranian leader participated in the graduation ceremony for cadets from the official universities of the Armed Forces, and addressed the recent riots and acts of vandalism after the death of the young Mahsa Amini.

He underlined the progress of the Islamic Republic in all areas, especially the activation of the knowledge-based production sector, as well as the country's ability to neutralize sanctions.

These are the first public statements made by Ayatollah Khamenei on the demonstrations for the death of the young Amini, who died shortly after being arrested by the so-called 'Morality Police'.

"A lot of riots take place all over the world. Especially in France, mass riots happen from time to time, but has the US president ever supported the European rioters, issued a statement or said that they support them?"

"Is there any record of the US media supporting them?" Khamenei asked, in his first remarks on the demonstrations.

"Is there a history of US mercenaries, such as some states in the region, including the Saudis, supporting rioters in European countries? But such support against Iran has happened repeatedly."

"How is it possible that some people do not see the hands of the US and Israel in this event?" he added.

"This is not about Hijab in Iran. Many Iranian women who do not abide by [con el uso de] hijab to perfection are among the staunch supporters of the Islamic Republic.

"This is about the independence and resistance of Islamic Iran. The United States cannot tolerate a strong and independent Iran," the Iranian supreme leader concluded.

“They want an Iran like the one in the Pahlavi era (the last shah), which obeyed their orders like a milk cow. For them it is not about the death of a young woman or the veil,” he added.