Tehran – A senior Iranian official has issued a stern warning to the United States, cautioning against repeating what he described as past errors in dealing with Iran. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi specifically alluded to incidents from last summer, suggesting that any similar actions would be met with a decisive response.
In an exclusive interview, Araghchi conveyed a clear message: Washington should refrain from repeating previous hostile actions. He emphasized that replicating past experiences would inevitably lead to outcomes mirroring those of the previous summer.
Addressing recent unrest within Iran, Araghchi attributed some of the casualties to foreign elements who infiltrated the protests. He alleged that these individuals engaged in terrorist tactics, including attacks on security forces and police, drawing parallels to the methods employed by ISIS. Araghchi claimed these elements “detained police officers, burned them alive, beheaded them, and started shooting at police and people.”
“Security forces were fighting terrorists, not protesters,” Araghchi asserted, refuting claims of thousands of protester deaths. He stated that the number of fatalities resulting from the actions of these elements was in the hundreds, suggesting that some deaths were deliberately orchestrated to draw the United States into the conflict. He further alluded to a purported Israeli plan, without providing concrete evidence.
Araghchi firmly denied any plans to execute protesters in connection with the recent demonstrations. The Iranian Judiciary’s media center has also disputed the accuracy of reported death tolls, clarifying that figures appearing on deceased individuals’ files represent burial permit numbers, not the total number of deaths.
Araghchi’s statements come amid heightened international concerns over potential US military action against Iran, following repeated threats from the US President. The President has also hinted at intervention in support of Iranian protesters.
Iran has experienced widespread protests since late December, initially sparked by deteriorating economic conditions. In some regions, these demonstrations have evolved into political protests targeting the ruling authorities.
