Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported yesterday that Iranian security agents arrested at least eight people linked to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency during last week’s unrest over gasoline price hikes.
“These elements had received CIA-funded training in various countries under the cover of becoming citizen-journalists,” IRNA quoted the Intelligence Ministry as saying. “Six were arrested while attending the riots and carrying out (CIA) orders and two while trying to … send information abroad.”
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the two weeks of violence as the work of a “very dangerous conspiracy.”
"The people foiled a deep, vast and very dangerous conspiracy on which a lot of money was spent for destruction, viciousness and the killing of people," Khamenei said.
The Iranian Supreme Leader was speaking at a gathering of the Basij – a militia loyal to the Islamic Republic's establishment. The Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force helped significantly to put down the demonstrations.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani referred to enemies conspiracies against Iranians, saying Iranian people will continue their way and will not bow to pressures.
Speaking to reporters at the end of his tour to East Azarbaijan Province, the Iranian president said that people of Azarbaijan have never let enemies win and have preserved their independence and dignity, according to IRNA.
He added that the trip was aimed at visiting quake-stricken areas and emphasizing facilitating rendering services to people.
President Rouhani arrived in East Azarbaijan's capital city of Tabriz yesterday morning on a day-long visit to open several industrial, health and development projects.
