Khamenei says recent 'riots' failed to weaken Iran as protests continue
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says that the West has used propaganda to weaken Iran during the latest protests.
During a speech in the religious city of Qom on Monday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei doubled down on his country’s response to protests over the last four months.
Speaking on the anniversary of the protests against the Shah of Iran in 1978 that ushered in the Islamic Revolution, Khamenei accused the United States of fomenting chaos in Iran 40 years later. It “tried any tool, especially propaganda, to reach their goal” of "overthrowing the Islamic Republic."
“But just like in these riots it became clear that they failed,” he added, according to Tasnim news agency.
Protests began in Iran four months ago over the death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the country’s morality police for a poor fitting hijab. She died in police custody, sparking immediate nationwide protests. Over 500 protesters have been killed and over 12,000 have been arrested. As of now, four individuals accused of attacks on security personnel have been executed, causing international condemnation.
