Iran's Khamenei says protesters' actions 'treason'

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the enemies sought to destroy Iran’s progress and strengths through the recent violent riots in the country.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the rioters did not actually take to the streets to protest against the economic hardships that the Iranian nation is going through as a result of Western sanctions.

“There is no doubt that we are beset with economic and livelihood problems now.

But, can these problems be solved by setting trash cans on fire, taking to the streets, and instigating riots?

They did not want to remedy the shortcomings, but rather, sought to obliterate the Iranian nation’s strengths,” the Leader noted.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasised that foreign enemies were overtly involved in the nationwide riots in the country.

He pointed to attempts aimed at undermining Iran’s national security, stopping the country’s scientific progress through closure of educational and scientific centres, impeding the growth of domestic production, and harming booming sectors such as tourism as clear examples that back up his argument.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the enemies pushed their involvement in recent riots through cyber-based propaganda and via Western and certain regional media outlets.

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that what the rioters did amounted to treason, calling on relevant institutions and state officials to seriously deal with any act of betrayal.

The Islamic republic has been rocked by civil unrest since the death in custody of Mahsa Amin, following her arrest.