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October 4, 2022

Iran's Supreme Leader Blames U.S. and Israel for Mass Protests 
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Iran's supreme leader has made his first public comments about the death
of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died after she was
detained by Iran's so-called morality police for allegedly wearing her
head scarf improperly. Speaking to military cadets at a graduation
ceremony in Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday labeled nationwide
protests that have broken out over Amini's killing as "riots" - and he
blamed the United States and Israel for organizing them.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: "I say this clearly, that these riots and
insecurities were designed by America and the usurping and fake Zionist
regime. They have sat down and planned this. They have planned this. And
those who take their salaries, some being traitorous Iranians abroad,
have helped them."

President Biden said Monday he was "gravely concerned" about the
intensifying violent crackdown on peaceful protesters, while promising
to impose "further costs" on Iran. On Monday, Canada announced new
sanctions against senior Iranian officials, while Germany and other
European countries submitted more than a dozen proposals for new EU
sanctions on Iran.


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