Iran accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest inside the country during a phone call between its foreign minister and his Emirati counterpart, as nationwide protests entered their 18th day and a sweeping internet shutdown stretched into a sixth day.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan that recent demonstrations in Iran were the result of what he described as external incitement backed by Washington and Israel, according to a ministry statement.
Araghchi said Iranians were determined to defend the country’s sovereignty and security against what he called foreign threats, the statement added.
The two ministers also discussed broader regional developments, with Araghchi stressing the importance of stability and cooperation in the Middle East. Sheikh Abdullah underlined the need for continued consultation and coordination between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and other regional states, the ministry said.
Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests for more than two weeks, initially sparked by economic hardship before escalating into wider opposition to the clerical establishment. Rights groups say the death toll has surpassed 2,000, although Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures.
Iranian state television has acknowledged a high number of deaths, quoting the head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs as blaming "armed and terrorist groups" for the violence.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said Iran has now been largely offline for more than 132 hours, calling it one of the longest nationwide shutdowns in recent years. International phone services have resumed only sporadically, making independent verification of events on the ground difficult.
The unrest has drawn international condemnation. Several European countries have summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest the crackdown, while Russia, a close ally of Tehran, has denounced what it called "subversive external interference" in Iran’s internal affairs.
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against the use of deadly force on protesters and said Washington is considering "very strong options" if the violence continues. Tehran has rejected the accusations and warned that any foreign intervention would be met with retaliation.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan that recent demonstrations in Iran were the result of what he described as external incitement backed by Washington and Israel, according to a ministry statement.
Araghchi said Iranians were determined to defend the country’s sovereignty and security against what he called foreign threats, the statement added.
The two ministers also discussed broader regional developments, with Araghchi stressing the importance of stability and cooperation in the Middle East. Sheikh Abdullah underlined the need for continued consultation and coordination between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and other regional states, the ministry said.
Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests for more than two weeks, initially sparked by economic hardship before escalating into wider opposition to the clerical establishment. Rights groups say the death toll has surpassed 2,000, although Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures.
Iranian state television has acknowledged a high number of deaths, quoting the head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs as blaming "armed and terrorist groups" for the violence.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said Iran has now been largely offline for more than 132 hours, calling it one of the longest nationwide shutdowns in recent years. International phone services have resumed only sporadically, making independent verification of events on the ground difficult.
The unrest has drawn international condemnation. Several European countries have summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest the crackdown, while Russia, a close ally of Tehran, has denounced what it called "subversive external interference" in Iran’s internal affairs.
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against the use of deadly force on protesters and said Washington is considering "very strong options" if the violence continues. Tehran has rejected the accusations and warned that any foreign intervention would be met with retaliation.
