The mass discontent in Iran over the past several weeks has been the works of Israel and the United States, a senior Revolutionary Guards said over the weekend in one of the most pinpointed attacks on the Jewish state in recent days.
The commander, Esmaeil Kowsari, said that the protests, which were triggered by the high price of fuel caused in part by the American sanctions on the regime, were of the "dirty goals of the Great Satan and the Zionists," reported Seth Frantzman of The Jerusalem Post.
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According to Frantzman, the statement was "one of the first major comments in which Iran directly blamed Israel, though the Islamic Republic had already blamed foreign forces for stirring up the protests."
On Tuesday, Iran conceded for the first time that protesters have been shot dead over the past two weeks by security forces.
"State television acknowledged killings of protesters, without giving figures," Reuters reported Monday.
According to the report, state broadcasters said "rioters were armed with knives and weapons. They had taken people hostage by closing all roads in some areas. Security forces had no other choice but to firmly confront them ... and rioters were killed in clashes."
The pro-Israel lobbying organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lashed out at Iran on Tuesday, noting that its conduct shows that it cared more about regional aggression than of the welfare of its people.
"Iran has brought this economic situation onto itself. Rather than invest in its people, Iran chose nuclear weapons, terror and ballistic missiles. The US has offered Iran a path to full sanctions relief if it ends these illicit activities. Iran should take the offer," AIPAC tweeted.
Iran has brought this economic situation onto itself. Rather than invest in its people, Iran chose nuclear weapons, terror and ballistic missiles. The U.S. has offered Iran a path to full sanctions relief if it ends these illicit activities. Iran should take the offer. https://t.co/P2iqcdOn0U
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) December 3, 2019
