Iran Blames Foreign Intelligence for Protest Movements

Iranian Authorities Claim Foreign Influence Behind Internal Unrest

The Iranian government has voiced concerns over recent clashes in the country, attributing them to interference from foreign states. On Monday, President Masoud Pezeshkian shifted the focus from domestic economic issues to the traditional geostrategic adversaries of Iran, namely Israel and the United States. Pezeshkian stated that "the same individuals who struck this country" during the 12-day war with Israel in June are now "trying to escalate discontent related to economic discussions."

He accused that "they have trained people both inside and outside the country; they have brought terrorists from abroad," referencing attacks on markets in the city of Rasht and the setting fire to mosques. Amidst these claims, the possibility of direct foreign intervention in support of Iranian protestors appears to be increasing, with U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly signaling a willingness to attack. Israeli Minister Amichai Eliyahu recently remarked that "when we attacked in Iran, we were on its ground and knew how to prepare a strike."

Despite conflicts with Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon, Iran is still perceived by many Israelis as the primary enemy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Tehran is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, holding significant influence over Israel’s enemies in the region. Analyzing the implications of these uncertainties, analysts suggest that the internal cohesion of Iran has been fundamentally weakened by prolonged protests, thus facilitating the infiltration of foreign security services.