WANA (Jan 12) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated on Monday that Iran possesses extensive evidence of the United States’ and Israel’s involvement in recent unrest across the country, and announced that the documents would soon be shared with both the Iranian public and the international community.

 

Araghchi made the remarks during a meeting with foreign ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in Tehran, marking his second briefing to the diplomatic corps following the 12-day conflict earlier this month.

 

Ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, India, South Korea, Japan, Venezuela, Turkey, Pakistan, Yemen, Nicaragua and several other countries attended the session, alongside senior officials from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

 

Opening the briefing, Araghchi referenced the turbulent path Iran had followed since the 1979 Revolution and described the initial demonstrations that began on December 28 as peaceful protests driven mainly by market grievances, business associations, and economic actors.

 

According to Araghchi, the government responded immediately with dialogue, including meetings between the President, cabinet ministers, and representatives of trade and business associations, which led to the first wave of protests subsiding.

 

However, he said, a second phase began on January 1, when “new elements” joined the demonstrations and turned them toward violence. While security forces sought to contain the situation with restraint, limited clashes occurred across several cities between January 1 and 7.

 

Araghchi asserted that a “third and entirely different phase” emerged between January 8 and 10, which he described as the entry of armed and terrorist groups into the unrest with the aim of triggering widespread bloodshed and social chaos.

 

According to the minister, firearms were smuggled into crowds, shots were fired at police and civilians alike, and the objective was to raise the number of fatalities in hopes of prompting foreign military intervention.

 

Referencing comments attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump, Araghchi called such statements “a blatant interference in the internal affairs of other states.”

The minister claimed that groups involved in the third phase employed tactics similar to those used by ISIS, including arson, beheadings, and attacks against civilians, security forces, and public infrastructure.

 

He cited the burning of markets, public buildings, private homes, and police stations, and alleged that 180 ambulances, numerous buses, and 53 mosques were torched within three days. He also claimed that some wounded individuals were executed before reaching hospitals.

 

Araghchi further asserted that those involved had been financially incentivized, claiming that payments were made for attacking government facilities and vehicles. He added that evidence included videos showing firearms being distributed among participants.

 

According to the minister, by January 10 government forces had regained control of the situation, arresting armed individuals and seizing weapons. He reiterated that the unrest after January 8 should be classified as “terrorist operations, not protests.”

 

Araghchi also alleged a direct role for foreign states, naming the United States and Israel. He referenced statements and media reports from Israeli officials, including a message by Mike Pompeo, which he characterized as an acknowledgment of Mossad activity inside Iran. He criticized Western governments for condemning Iranian police actions while ignoring Israeli military operations in Gaza and alleged double standards in human-rights discourse.

 

He said polls showed over 80 percent of Iranians wanted the violence to stop and that more than 70 percent believed the unrest had foreign origins. He added that Iran would pursue accountability through international legal and diplomatic channels.

 

Araghchi stressed that Iran recognized the right to peaceful protest but insisted that no state would tolerate terrorism, arson, and armed attacks against civilians and law enforcement. He said Iran’s security forces now exercised full operational control and warned against further “miscalculations” by other countries.

 

The foreign minister linked the January unrest to the earlier 12-day conflict, describing both as part of a broader strategic effort to destabilize Iran. He accused the United States and Israel of attempting to convert domestic grievances into armed cells with the aim of enabling foreign military intervention.

 

Regarding temporary internet restrictions, Araghchi told the envoys the shutdown was introduced for security reasons and would be eased for diplomatic missions as soon as possible.

 

He concluded by saying Iran was not seeking war but was fully prepared for it, while also signaling readiness for negotiations conducted on equal footing and with mutual respect.