Abbas Araghchi: Iran has evidence of US and Israeli involvement in riots

(Patria) - Tehran has evidence of the involvement of the United States and Israel in the terrorist acts of the rioters, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, TASS reported.

"We have a large amount of documents proving that both the US and Israel are involved in the terrorist activities that have occurred in Iran in recent days," he pointed out at a meeting with heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Tehran.

The high-ranking Iranian diplomat added that former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "also admitted that agents of (Israeli intelligence agency) Mossad led the terrorist movement together with the rioters".

"We will investigate this issue, but those whose statements contributed to the increase in the number of victims are responsible for this development," Araghchi emphasized.

"Western countries have condemned our police instead of terrorists. They are the ones who have not condemned the genocide of over 70,000 people in the Gaza Strip and the deaths of over 1,000 Iranian citizens by the US and Israel. Today they support terrorists in Iran," he stressed.

On December 29, 2025, traders began to protest in Tehran due to the sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial. A day later, university students joined the unrest, which spread to most major cities. The protests culminated on the night of January 8, when at least thirteen civilians, including a three-year-old child, were killed as a result of the rioters' actions. Authorities also announced the deaths of 38 police officers.

Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani said that the rebels burned 25 mosques and damaged 26 banks, three medical centers, and ten government buildings, along with over 100 fire trucks, buses, and ambulances.

Iranian authorities have labeled the rioters as terrorists, blaming Israel and the US for orchestrating the unrest.