Iran’s Khamenei blames US for unrest, vows revenge
Tehran, Nov 2 (EFE).- Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday blamed the United States for issues facing his country and vowed revenge for the US assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
Khamenei went on to criticize the support the US expressed recently for the protests that have gripped Iran since the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly.
“One can see a trace of the US in most of the events that take place against Iran,” he said in a speech to Iranian students.
Those involved in violence against security forces during the demonstrations will be punished, Khamenei stressed.
“Of course, we have never forgotten some incidents and will never forget them,” he said, referring to the US strikes that killed Soliemani in Baghdad in January 2020.
“We stand by what we have said and it will be acted upon at the proper time,” he added.
The nationwide rallies are mainly led by young people and women shouting “woman, life, freedom” and have included rarely seen gestures of defiance such as burning veils, one of the symbols of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The demonstrations that spread to universities and even high schools are being met with a brutal crackdown by security forces.
According to the Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights, over 108 people have been killed and 12,500 arrested in the unrest so far.EFE
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