DUBAI (Reuters) — Thousands of supporters of Iran’s clerical establishment rallied in Tehran on Monday, accusing the United States and Israel of instigating the most violent anti-government protests for over a decade in the Islamic Republic.
Thousands of young and working-class Iranians took to the streets on Nov. 15 after gasoline price hikes of at least 50% were announced, voicing outrage at a further squeeze on living costs compounding hardships imposed by renewed U.S. sanctions.
Protesters quickly expanded their demands to include a removal of leaders seen as unaccountable and corrupt. Violence erupted with at least 100 banks and dozens of buildings torched, the worst disturbances since unrest over alleged election fraud was crushed in 2009, with dozens killed by security forces.
On Monday, state television carried live footage of demonstrators chanting “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel,” while marching toward Tehran’s Revolution Square to hear a speech by a commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards.
State television and the foreign ministry had promoted the government-organized rally since Sunday in response to Western statements of support for the fuel price protests.
“I recommend they (foreign countries) look at the marches today, to see who the real people in Iran are and what they are saying,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.
The Islamic Republic has accused “thugs” linked to exiles and foreign foes — the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia — of stirring up the street unrest, during which Amnesty International said around 115 protesters were killed.
“Death to the dictator. Time for you to step down!” chanted protesters in social media videos posted by Iranians from inside the country. The images could not be verified by Reuters.
LINGERING PROTESTS
State authorities warned “rioters” of severe punishment if unrest continued. They said late last week that disturbances had ceased, although unverified videos posted on social media after restrictions on internet access were partially lifted suggested sporadic protests were continuing in parts of the country.
Washington has sided with Iran’s protesters, while France and Germany have expressed deep concern over reports of many deaths during the protests.
Rights group Amnesty International said last week that security forces had fired into crowds of protesters from rooftops and, in one case, from a helicopter.
Social media footage showed dozens of police on motorbikes driving into crowds and attacking protesters with clubs. Other videos showed police firing at people with live ammunition.
Iran has rejected Amnesty’s death toll figures as “speculative”, saying several people, including members of the security forces, had been killed and over 1,000 people arrested. The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based advocacy group, said the number of arrests was likely closer to 4,000.
“My cousin has been arrested. We don’t know where he is and whether he is alive or not,” said a young protester in Tehran.
Some Iranian lawmakers have called for “the execution of “ringleaders of the riots.”
Anxious to curb support for the unrest, authorities blocked internet access for several days before partially restoring it on Thursday. Washington imposed sanctions on Iran’s information minister for his role in “wide-scale internet censorship.”
Reporting by Parisa Hafezi newsroom; Editing by Mark Heinrich
Image: Women walk past a building damaged during recent protests, in Shahriar, Iran, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday, Nov. 20 (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
