Ali Shamkhani's Statements on Protests in Iran and 'Warning to Saudi Arabia'

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council has accused Saudi Arabia of being involved in the recent widespread protests in Iran and warned that 'they will receive an appropriate response from Iran.' Protests and gatherings against the Iranian government have continued for the fifth consecutive day in various cities. In an interview with the Al-Mayadeen television network in Lebanon, Shamkhani discussed the protests in Iran. His interview has been reflected in Iranian media. Al-Mayadeen is said to be close to the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Shamkhani stated that Saudi Arabia and 'some countries' have been 'stirring up the atmosphere inside Iran through the internet.' He mentioned that hashtags related to the protests come from the U.S., the U.K., and '27 percent of them' from Saudi Arabia. These statements are very similar to reports previously published by some media close to the Revolutionary Guards, such as Tasnim. These comments come at a time when popular social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are essentially blocked in Iran, and other networks like Telegram and Instagram have recently been shut down. Reports indicate that internet speed in Iran has also slowed down. The protests in Iran have received significant coverage on social media and in various global media outlets. Reporters Without Borders condemned the 'restriction of access to the internet and software like Telegram and Instagram by the authorities of the Islamic Republic' and called it 'a suppression of the freedom of information and the right to know for the people.' Shamkhani told Al-Mayadeen that 'the government of Mohammed bin Salman,' the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has initiated hashtags related to the protests and demonstrations in Iran, claiming that 'the executors of this are Israeli and Western agents.' The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council described this issue as 'a proxy war in cyberspace against the Iranian nation' and warned that 'the Saudis will receive an appropriate response from Iran from a place they least expect, and they know well the danger of our response.' He also stated that 'the sensitivity of the Iranian people regarding Saudi interference in our affairs is greater than their sensitivity to U.S. interference.' Israel has denied involvement in the protests in Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, described similar accusations from Hassan Rouhani as 'lies and ridiculous.' Donald Trump and several officials from his administration and U.S. lawmakers have supported peaceful protests in Iran. In one of his recent tweets on the matter, Trump wrote: 'Iran has failed at all levels despite its very bad nuclear deal with the Obama administration. The great people of Iran have been repressed for years. They are hungry for food and freedom. In addition to human rights, Iran's wealth has been plundered. The time for change has come.' The White House stated that the United States 'supports the right of the people of Iran to peacefully express their protests' and 'it is deserving that their voices be heard.' In another part of his interview with Al-Mayadeen, Shamkhani claimed that the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization is also collaborating with Saudi Arabia. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, among the opposition groups to the Islamic Republic, has supported the protests in Iran. Maryam Rajavi, a senior leader of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, stated that 'the only way to solve economic and social problems is to overthrow the clerical regime.' The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the National Council of Resistance and the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization as 'terrorist organizations.' The removal of this group from the lists of terrorist organizations in Western countries in recent years has also faced strong reactions from Tehran. On the other hand, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization has called the terrorist accusations 'incorrect' and stated that their removal from terrorist lists in the West will 'change the balance of power.' The protests in Iran have resulted in at least 13 deaths and have continued for the fifth consecutive day. Shamkhani, in part of his interview, attributed 'the dissatisfaction of part of the people with the economic situation' and 'dissatisfaction with the performance of domestic media' as internal reasons for the recent protests. These statements come at a time when the initial protests in Iran quickly took on a political nature. In recent days, protesters in various cities have chanted against the leader, institutions, and political organizations of the Islamic Republic and the religious government of Iran. Protesters have also raised slogans in support of the monarchs of the Pahlavi era and called for an end to Iran's presence in other regional countries.