Iran accuses ‘enemies’ of sparking violent protests as death toll rises to 22

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader has pointed accusing fingers at its ‘enemies’ for sparking days of violent protests in the country over rising fuel and food prices.

Speaking for the first time after days of unending protests which saw demonstrators clash with security forces Ayatollah said; “In recent days, enemies of Iran used different tools including cash, weapons, politics and intelligence services to create troubles for the Islamic Republic.”

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Meanwhile, the death toll arising from the violent protests has risen from 13 to 22 with nine more people, including a child, reported killed after an overnight violence in central Iran.

President Hassan Rouhani of Iran who spoke after the outbreak of protests said people in the country have the right to protest but warned that violent anti-government demonstrations are unacceptable.

Iranian authorities have also blocked access to Instagram and Telegram social media Apps in the country after a video of two dead demonstrators who passed away after sustaining gunshot wounds fired by anti-riot police went viral.

 

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