Sputnik News- The Iranian authorities announced that anti-government protests, which hit the country in recent days, have ended.




Since December 28, Iran has faced its largest protests in�nearly a decade. The demonstrations started in�response to�a surge in�fuel and food prices and high rates of�unemployment, inflation and air pollution. At least 20 people have reportedly been killed in�the nationwide protests, and 450 people have been detained, according to�media reports.

The official figures said that about�15,000 people participated in�the protests in�such cities as�Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Rasht. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Monday that the unrest had been provoked by�the combination of�existing domestic problems and outside�influence.

'Riot Has Failed'

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of�Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on�Wednesday that the riot had failed and the protesters had not reached their goals.
"I announce that the riot of�1396 [year according to�Iranian calendar] has failed� The number of�protesters was small and it did not exceed 15,000 people across�Iran," Jafari said as�quoted by�the IRGC information portal.


The official added that Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States had ordered the militants from�Daesh to�enter the Iranian territory in�order to�carry out�subversive activities.

Iran's UN Envoy Accuses US of�Supporting Protests

On Wednesday, Gholam Ali Khoshroo, Iran's permanent representative to�the United Nations, sent a letter to�UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in�which the Iranian diplomat accused Washington of�interfering into�the Iranian domestic policy through�the support of�anti-government rallies.
"In the past�several days, the US administration, led by�the US president, has stepped up�its acts of�intervention in�a grotesque way in�Iran�s internal affairs under�the pretext of�providing support for�sporadic protests, which in�several instances were hijacked by�infiltrators to�include acts of�senseless homicide," Khoshroo said in�the letter, as�quoted by�the Tasnim news agency on�Thursday.


The permanent representative added that the US activities violate the international law and the UN charter.

The diplomat noted that Iran's constitution guarantees the citizens' right to�protest.

"As in�all other democracies, the Government of�the Islamic Republic of�Iran is determined to�protect this right as�well as�the safety and security of�its citizens against�acts of�violence and destruction," the letter said.

The envoy expressed hope that the other countries would condemn the US policy and would call on�Washington to�abide by�international law.

Pro-Government Rally

The public events held by�people criticizing the country's authorities were not the only rallies held across�the nation. On Thursday, several thousands of�Iranians, who support the government, gathered in�the western city of�Hamadan, according to�the Mehr news agency. The outlet added that people participating in�the event held the national flags and portraits of�Rouhani and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader, and chanted slogans in�support of�the government and police.