Iran accuses US of supporting protests "for the umpteenth time"
Iran's government on Sunday accused US President Joe Biden of supporting the protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini a month ago "for the umpteenth time".
"As he has no trusted advisers and no good memory, I remind him that Iran was too strong and firm to surrender to his cruel sanctions and vain threats," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Naser Kanani said.
In a statement posted on Instagram, a social network blocked to ordinary Iranians, Kanani said Biden had "supported the unrest in Iran for the umpteenth time through interventionist statements" on Saturday.
The US president said yesterday that the Iranian government is "oppressive" and said he was "impressed" with the Persian country's women for their protests.
"We are never surprised by your claims or by the interventionism of the United States, because intervention, rape and murder are the very nature of the American system," Kanani added.
Iran has been experiencing protests since the death on 16 September of Amini, after she was arrested three days earlier by the morality police for wearing the Islamic headscarf incorrectly, which are being harshly repressed by the security forces.
The demonstrations are mainly led by young people and women chanting "woman, life, freedom" and calling for more freedoms.
Police have cracked down hard on the demonstrations with the use of batons, tear gas, water cannons and, according to the UN, live ammunition.
The Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights has reported 92 deaths, including 23 minors between the ages of 11 and 17.
The Iranian regime has blamed the "enemies" of the protests, namely the US and Israel, and warned the EU against imposing sanctions, to which it will respond with "reciprocity".
Last night a fire broke out and clashes broke out between prisoners and security forces at Tehran's Evin prison, where political prisoners, activists and journalists are held.
The Iranian authorities have been quick to assure that there are no links between the protests and the prison incident, which involved clashes between prisoners and security forces, resulting in eight injuries, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
Many of those arrested in the protests have been imprisoned in Evin.