Tehran Denounces US support of Unrest in Iran

Iran has denounced the US support for protests recently staged in the country by a group of rioters, accusing Washington of interfering in its internal affairs.

There remarks came in a statement issued by the foreign ministry late Sunday, after two days of violent protests in Iran against fuel price hike.

The ministry also described US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statements as support for a group of rioters”.

It added that the State Security’s statements do not carry any honest sympathy and have no congruity with the conduct of the wise Iranian people.”

At least two people, a civilian and a policeman, have been killed since Friday evening in Iran when violent protests erupted in several Iranian cities in the wake of announcing a major fuel price hike.

Protests erupted in Iran on Friday, hours after it was announced the price of petrol would rise to 15,000 rials a liter (12 US cents) from 10,000 for the first 60 litres and to 30,000 rials for any extra fuel bought after that each month.

Pompeo said in response to the demonstrations that have been erupted in Iran“the US is with you”.

The statement accused Washington’s of “ill-intent” statement over its decision to re-impose sanctions on Tehran after the US withdrawal in May last year from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

It is noteworthy that massive demonstrations took place in the central city of Sirjan,” IRNA added. “People attacked a fuel depot in the city and tried to burn it, but police intervened to stop them.”

The news agency also pointed out those sporadic protests took place in cities of Iran including Mashhad (north), Birjand (east) and Bandar Abbas (south), as well as in Ghashsarat, Ahvaz, Abadan, Khorramshahr and Mahshahr (southwest).

In December 2018, Iran President Hassan Rouhani tried to increase fuel prices, but the Shura Council blocked the adoption of the resolution as the country was shaken by unprecedented demonstrations triggered by austerity measures.

Noteworthy, oil futures gained nearly 2% on Friday as comments from a top US official raised optimism for a US-China trade deal, but worries about increasing crude supplies capped prices.