KEY POINTS
- Pezeshkian emphasises his administration is “ready to listen to its people.”
- He blames the US and Israel for instigating unrest.
- Protests erupted after Iranian currency plunged in late Dec.
- President Pezeshkian urges citizens to avoid “rioters and terrorists.”
- Trump states the US is “ready to help” Iran, hinting at potential strikes.
- Ministry of Interior claims the unrest is subsiding.
ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to revamp the country’s economy, asserting that his administration is “ready to listen to its people” in the wake of two weeks of nationwide protests.
During a televised interview on state television on Sunday, Pezeshkian took a conciliatory tone, saying that his administration was committed to addressing the country’s economic challenges while accusing the United States and Israel of instigating deadly unrest.
The crisis erupted after the Iranian currency plunged in late December, following years of economic strain, sparking widespread protests over rising living costs and inflation.
Over time, the demonstrations have taken on a more political and anti-government character.
US and Israel attempting to cause unrest
President Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of attempting to “sow chaos and disorder” by influencing elements of the unrest, and urged Iranians to distance themselves from what he described as “rioters and terrorists.”
“People have concerns. We should sit with them, and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns,” Pezeshkian said. “But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society.”
According to Al Jazeera’s Iranian officials had spent the past week trying to draw a distinction between protesters and what they described as foreign-trained rioters.
Peaceful and armed demonstrators
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf sought to distinguish between peaceful and armed demonstrators in remarks to lawmakers on Sunday, stating that Iran respects “people’s peaceful protests over economic concerns” but will act firmly against “terrorists.”
Qalibaf, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also issued a stark warning to Washington following US President Donald Trump’s threat of military action should Iranian authorities harm protesters.
“In the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” he said as some lawmakers reportedly chanted anti-American slogans.
US stands ready to help
Trump stated on social media that the United States stands “ready to help” Iran, hinting at potential strikes while ruling out the use of ground forces.
His remarks marked a notable escalation as Tehran confronts its most serious domestic unrest in years.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior claimed that the protests are beginning to subside, while Iran’s attorney general warned participants that they could face capital punishment.
Monitoring groups reported that a nationwide internet blackout has continued for more than 60 hours.
