Tehran [Iran], January 15: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israel of wanting to drag the US into war.
"Israel has always tried to persuade the US to wage wars on its behalf. But remarkably, this time they are talking openly about what is otherwise kept secret," Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Wednesday.
He was responding to a post by an Israeli journalist who had reported on foreign powers allegedly arming protesters in Iran. "President Trump should now know exactly where to start to end the killings," the minister continued.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 14, which is considered part of the right-wing nationalist camp, reported on Tuesday that demonstrators in Iran were allegedly being armed by "foreign elements". The report did not provide any further details. "Everyone is free to guess who is behind it," an X post said.
Iran expert Holly Dagres called the Channel 14 report "deeply irresponsible." In a post on X she wrote: "As anticipated, the Islamic Republic is exploiting allegations made by an Israeli journalist to bolster its false narrative that Iranian protesters are Israeli and US agents."
At least 3,428 demonstrators have been killed in Iran since the outbreak of protests at the end of December, according to the human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO).
The Oslo-based group also said the actual death toll could be significantly higher.
According to the organization, more than 10,000 people have been arrested during the protests. The activist group also voiced concern at the actions of the Iranian authorities and warned of mass executions of detained demonstrators.
IHRNGO also referred to reports by state media, according to which at least 121 police officers, security and state forces were killed in the unrest.
The figures cannot currently be independently verified.
The internet in Iran has now been shut down for almost a week, and information is only slowly reaching the outside world. Since Tuesday residents in Iran have again been able to make international phone calls.
Anti-government protests that have shaken Iran for more than two weeks appear to be subsiding, according to analysts and residents.
A reported published by the US-based Critical Threats Project (CTP) said only seven protests were recorded across six provinces on Tuesday, a sharp drop from last Thursday, when 156 demonstrations were documented in 27 of Iran's 31 provinces.
Source: Qatar Tribune
