Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States and Israel of instigating violence in ongoing protests across Iran. Speaking at a press conference in Beirut after meeting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Araghchi claimed that both countries had openly admitted to interfering in the demonstrations. He said their involvement turned what began as peaceful protests into violent confrontations. Araghchi also dismissed the possibility of a US-Israeli military intervention in Iran, saying previous attempts had failed and any repetition would meet the same fate.

The protests began on December 28 over rising living costs and quickly spread to nearly all cities and towns across Iran’s 31 provinces. The government has deployed security forces nationwide to suppress the unrest. On Friday, authorities cut off internet and mobile connections in most parts of the country to control the situation.

Araghchi referenced a 12-day war from the previous June while warning against foreign interference, emphasizing that Iran would respond firmly to any external aggression.