U.S., Zionists, Reactionary Regimes Cheer Rioters

Enemies Don’t Know Iranian People

Date: 31 December 2017 - 20:54

News ID: ۴۸۳۲۸

TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Sunday the U.S., the occupying regime of Israel and regional reactionary states, which pretend to be supporting the rights of the Iranian people, actually lack a real understanding of the nation.
"Our enemies, especially those who have no standing in their countries and not been elected by people, have claimed over the past few days to be supporting our people's rights," he said.
"The occupying Zionist regime, the reactionary regimes in the region and the U.S. are gleefully turning around certain scenes in their faulty minds as if something were happening in Iran," Rahmani Fazli said. "They have not recognized our people," he added.
The remarks came in response to meddlesome statements made by American and Zionist officials following scattered protests against economic problems in some Iranian cities.
On Saturday and Sunday, Trump took to Twitter to express support for the demonstrations, claiming that "the good people of Iran want change."
"The Iranian government should respect their people's rights, including right to express themselves. The world is watching!" he further tweeted.
Trump's remarks came shortly after he made outrageous and insulting comments about Iranians.
In his speech on strategic review of U.S. policy on Iran in October, Trump used "Arabian Gulf” to refer to the waters separating Iran and the regional Arab states, which are historically known as the Persian Gulf.
Before his speech, Trump had called Iran a "terrorist nation.” He has also issued a travel ban against nationals of several Muslim-majority states, including Iran.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi on Saturday denounced Washington's "hypocritical and opportunist" support for the protests.
Rahmani Fazli stressed that the situation will return to normal "with tolerance and prudence," adding, "We are more determined than ever to respond to people's demands."
The demonstrators in Tehran and some other Iranian cities have expressed their discontent with price hikes, unemployment and unauthorized credit institutions.
Qasemi on Sunday also hit out at Canada's "meddlesome" stance regarding the protests, saying it lacks any validity.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran regards the meddlesome stance of the Canadian government as a violation of that country's legal and international commitments," he said.
He added that the Canadian government's position was not in conformity with remarks by the country's senior officials about the importance of improving interaction and dialogue with Iran.
"Unfortunately, the Canadian government's rhetoric is a rehash of the wrong, illogical and ineffective rhetoric of Canada's previous governments against the Iranian people and is inadmissible," the spokesperson pointed out.
In a written statement on Saturday, Canada's Global Affairs said the country was "encouraged by the Iranian people who are exercising their basic right to protest peacefully."
It called on the Iranian authorities to "uphold and respect democratic and human rights" and vowed to "continue to support the fundamental rights of Iranians, including the right to freedom of expression.”
A provincial official said two people were killed during a protest rally in a western Iranian city on Saturday, adding Takfiri groups and foreign intelligence services appear to be behind the killings.
The remarks by Habibollah Khojastepour, deputy for political and security affairs of Lorestan Province, came a day after a group of rioters clashed with police and security forces in Dorood.
"In this confrontation, our goal was to end the gathering peacefully, but due to the presence of Takfiri and hostile individuals and groups directed by foreign intelligence services, two people were unfortunately killed," he said.
They had gathered upon a call by "hostile groups" outside Iran which have used European- and U.S.-based media channels to encourage people to riot.
"During the confrontation, no bullet was fired by military, law enforcement, and security forces at the people,” Khojastepour stressed.
"The footprints of hostile and Takfiri individuals and groups and foreign intelligence services are clearly visible in the turmoil in Dorood," he added.