Iran rebukes Biden's support of protesters dismissing comments as effort to 'inflame' unrest

Iran has condemned US comments offering support to protesters, who took to the streets in their thousands over the past four weeks following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

16 October, 2022

US President Joe Biden said on Friday he was 'stunned' by how Iranians have reacted to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini [source: Getty]

Iran rejected as interference in Tehran's state matters US President Joe Biden's support of nationwide protests over the death of a woman in police custody, Iranian Students News Agency reported on Sunday.

Commenting on weeks of anti-government protests in Iran ignited by Mahsa Amini's death on September 16, Biden said on Saturday he was surprised by the courage of the people taking to the streets in protest in Iran.

"On Saturday ... Biden interfered in Iran's state matters by supporting the riots ... In recent days, the US administration have tried desperately to inflame unrest in Iran under various excuses ," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said, ISNA reported.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price tweeted on Saturday that America was "committed to helping Iranians as their government violently suppresses peaceful protests".

The protests have swept across the Islamic Republic for a month. Hundreds have been arrested and dozens killed.

The protests have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution, with demonstrations spreading across the country and some people chanting for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

[Reuters]