In remarks shared through an English translation, Araqchi said warnings issued by US President Donald Trump about possible action against Tehran had encouraged what he described as terrorists to target both protesters and security forces in an effort to provoke foreign intervention.
Araqchi’s comments came after Trump said he was considering potential military action against Iran amid growing anti government protests. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran appeared to be approaching a red line he had earlier set regarding the killing of protesters.
Trump said the US military was examining the situation and that strong options were under consideration, adding that a decision would be made after further review. He also claimed that Iran’s leadership had reached out seeking negotiations following his warnings, though he added that action could still be taken before any meeting.
According to a US official cited by Reuters, Trump was scheduled to meet senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options related to Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that possible measures included military strikes, cyber operations, expanded sanctions, and online support for anti government groups.
Earlier, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Washington against what he termed a miscalculation, saying that any attack on Iran would make Israel and all US bases and ships legitimate targets.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government announced three days of national mourning for those it described as martyrs, including members of the security forces killed during two weeks of unrest. State television reported that the government characterised the protests as riots and framed the response as a national resistance battle against the United States and Israel.
President Masoud Pezeshkian called for a nationwide national resistance march on Monday to denounce the violence, which authorities blamed on what they described as urban terrorist criminals.
Protests have continued to grow despite an internet shutdown lasting more than 72 hours, according to monitoring group Netblocks, which warned that restrictions were limiting information flow.
A US based rights group, HRANA, said more than 500 people had been killed in the unrest. It reported verified deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested over the past two weeks.
