The United States is to blame for “the transformation of peaceful protests into violent, subversive acts and widespread vandalism” in Iran, the country’s United Nations ambassador told the Security Council on Friday.
Iran condemns “the ongoing, unlawful, and irresponsible conduct of the United States of America, in coordination with the Israeli regime, in interfering in Iran’s internal affairs through threats, incitement, and the deliberate encouragement of instability and violence,” Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani wrote in a letter, seen by Reuters.
He accused Washington of “destabilizing practices” that undermine the founding UN Charter, violate fundamental principles of international law, and threaten the foundations of international peace and security.
Khamenei accuses protestors of acting on foreign interests
In a speech broadcast in Iran on Friday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of US President Donald Trump.
In his speech, Khamenei called on protesters to "preserve unity," warning that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as "mercenaries for foreigners."
With Iran's anti-government unrest evolving rapidly and foreign pressure mounting, the clerical establishment appears unable, for now, to tackle what has become a crisis of legitimacy at the heart of the Islamic Republic.
US President Donald Trump has said he might come to the aid of Iranian protesters if security forces fire on them.
When asked in an interview on Thursday at what point the US would intervene, given that over 30 protestors have been killed so far, Trump claimed that many protestors have been "killed by problems with crowd control" and that he "isn't sure [he] can necessarily hold somebody responsible for that."
On Friday, Trump said that the US was watching what was happening very closely and that "if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved. We'll be hitting them very hard where it hurts."
Trump clarified that "that doesn't mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts."