Speaking at the holy shrine of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, Pezeshkian said US President Donald Trump, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and European actors attempted to provoke tensions and equipped certain groups, adding that some innocent people were drawn into the situation and taken to the streets.
He said the aim of those actions was to fragment the country, fuel conflict and hatred among the population, and create deep divisions within Iranian society.
Pezeshkian said foreign-backed armed rioters and terrorists hijacked peaceful, sporadic protests over economic grievances on January 8 and 9.
In this context, he said, Trump openly and publicly encouraged violence by calling on armed rioters to take over state institutions and by threatening military action against Iran if they were confronted.
The violence that was encouraged by the United States and Israel resulted in extensive damage to public and private property, including the destruction of shops, government institutions and public service facilities, as well as the killing of thousands of civilians and members of the security forces, he said.
Explaining the government’s position, the president said that in no ordinary social protest do people take up firearms, kill military personnel, or set ambulances and markets on fire.
He said the government has a duty to listen to protesters’ voices and concerns and to address their issues, stressing that authorities are prepared to do so.
However, he said it was clear the situation went beyond a simple social protest, adding that enemies exploited existing problems to provoke unrest and continue efforts to divide society.
Concluding his remarks, Pezeshkian said the presence and guidance of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei have consistently neutralized such plots and will continue to do so in the future.