Biden announced in a statement on Monday that the US will impose new sanctions against Iran later this week amid unrest sparked by the death of 22-year-old girl Mahsa Amini while in police custody.
He also said that the US was making access to the Internet easier for Iranians, including through facilitating greater access to secure, outside platforms and services.
In the meantime, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei had made it clear in a speech on Monday that the unrests in Iran were preplanned conspiracies designed by the US and the Zionist regime and their mercenaries and some “treacherous” Iranians abroad helped them.
He said that the US and the Zionist regime are in trouble with Iran’s power, independence, and progress.
“In these events, the officers working in the country’s law enforcement, the Basij, and the Iranian nation have been wronged more than anyone else. Of course, the Iranian nation was present and very strong in this event too as it has been in other events, and it will continue to do the same in the future too,” the Supreme Leader said, referring to the unrest triggered by Amini’s death.
Ayatollah Khamenei noted: “I openly state that the recent riots and unrest in Iran were schemes designed by the US; the usurping, fake Zionist regime; their mercenaries; and some treasonous Iranians abroad who helped them.”
He reminded people of the double standards of the US and the West with regard to the recent riots. He emphasized, “Many riots take place in the world. Every now and then, there are large riots in Europe, especially in France, and in Paris. But has the US president or the US House of Representatives ever supported the rioters and issued a statement? Is there any record of them sending a message saying that we stand with you? Is there any record of the mass media, which is affiliated with American capitalism, and the US mercenaries, such as some governments in the region like the Saudis, supporting rioters in those countries? Is there any record of the US announcing that they would provide some hardware or software for the internet to rioters so that they could communicate more easily? But such support against Iran has happened repeatedly.”
The Leader went on to say, “The American's expression of sorrow for the death of a girl is a lie. Contrary to appearances, they are happy to have found this excuse to create turmoil.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution raised this question in another part of his speech, “What is the foreign states’ motive for creating riots and unrest in the country?” He answered this by saying, “They feel the country is progressing toward achieving a comprehensive power, and they cannot tolerate this.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian had previously said in an interview with NPR that the US and the West had better be concerned about the situation of Iranian patients instead of the Internet, referring to the sanctions on Iran that have led to a lack of access to medicines.
He said Iran and the US were trading messages on the negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and that there were no important new in Iran and there would be no regime change.
He recalled former US President Barack Obama’s support for the protesters in Iran and advised US officials to be patient and avoid hasty decisions, as such behavior would reduce the confidence in negotiations.
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