“Investigations by the Revolutionary Guard secret service reveal the involvement of secret services from some 20 countries in the riots,” Iranian security force chief General Mohammad Kazemi said in an interview with website of Iran’s Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), “khamenei.ir”, excerpts of which were published today by state media.

Iranian authorities generally describe the protests as “riots” encouraged by countries and organizations hostile to Iran.

Hundreds of people have died in protests following the September 16, 2022 death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for failing to adhere to the very strict dress code imposed on women in Iran.

Among the countries concerned, General Kazemi cited the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Austria, Albania , Australia, Iceland, Italy, Kosovo, Norway, Bahrain, New Zealand and Israel. .

Most of these countries, backed by Iran’s secret service, backed the protesters and imposed sanctions on the government and security forces because of the violent and repressive response to the protests.

In the interview, General Kazemi referred to these countries’ use of non-European citizens, such as Afghans, Pakistanis and Iraqis, to “gather information on the state of unrest”.

Kazemi also questioned “the activity of diplomats from the French embassy in Tehran” to “gather information on the ground on the riots and the situation of the security forces”.

The director of the Iranian secret service also referred to the “regular meetings of the secret service of the Emirates and the Zionist regime [Israel] in an Arab country to support the agitation” in Iran, also read the interview excerpts.