As protests continued across Iran for a ninth day, the foreign ministry on Monday accused the United States and Israel of interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and encouraging violence through their public statements.
Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said statements by some American and Israeli officials amounted to interference in Iran’s internal affairs and incitement to violence under international norms and rejected what he described as foreign efforts to present themselves as supportive of the Iranian public.
“Actions or statements by figures such as the Israeli prime minister or certain radical and hardline US officials regarding Iran’s internal affairs amount, under international norms, to nothing more than incitement to violence, terrorism, and killing.”
Protests have been reported in 222 locations nationwide, including rallies in 78 cities across 26 provinces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday night aboard Air Force One that the United States is following developments in Iran very closely, warning: “If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they are going to get hit very hard by the United States.”
Baghaei said Iranians remained deeply distrustful of Washington and Israel, citing past actions by the two countries and arguing that the public would not be swayed by what he called “deceptive rhetoric.”
He also said Iran would not base its security posture on remarks from Israeli officials, accusing Israel of misleading statements and signaling continued military vigilance.
“We are not going to trust or rely on the statements of officials from the Zionist regime,” he said. “The regime’s pattern of deception is clear to us.”
According to HRANA, at least 19 demonstrators and one member of security forces have been killed so far as the unrest continues.
Videos and eyewitness accounts received by Iran International showed security forces opening fire on protesters in several locations, most notably in Malekshahi, a city in Ilam province, where state-linked media confirmed multiple deaths following clashes.
Based on information shared with Iran International, during protests in Malekshahi at least five protesters were killed by direct fire from security forces, and around 30 others were wounded.
Footage from the city showed wounded protesters and scenes of chaos after live ammunition was used.
Overall, at least 15 protesters and one member of the security forces have been reported killed during seven days of demonstrations, according to rights group HRANA.
Iran International was able to confirm that dozens more were wounded by live fire or pellet guns, while arrests were reported across several provinces.
The unrest, initially driven by economic grievances, has increasingly taken on a political character, with protesters chanting slogans against clerical rule and the Supreme Leader, as well as calling for a return of monarchy.
Demonstrations were reported in major cities as well as smaller provincial centers, despite heavy security deployments and warnings from authorities.
In his first public remarks since the protests began, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described participants as “rioters” and called for their suppression, signaling a hardening official stance as the unrest entered its second week.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said demonstrations, labor strikes and street protests were reported in 60 cities across 25 provinces, indicating that unrest has extended beyond major urban centers into smaller cities and surrounding areas.
The group said protest activity had taken varied forms, including at least 18 student gatherings at 15 universities.
According to HRANA, at least 582 people were arrested during the past week, a figure it described as a minimum estimate, warning that the actual number is likely higher due to reporting restrictions and security pressure.
The data showed a significant number of those detained were minors. In the southwestern city of Yasouj alone, at least 81 people were arrested, including 70 under the age of 18, HRANA said.
Arrests of teenagers aged 15 to 17 were also reported in cities including Sabzevar, Izeh, Zahedan, Isfahan and Yasouj.
HRANA said it had confirmed at least 16 deaths linked to the protests during the seven-day period, including one member of Iran’s security forces. The remaining fatalities were civilians, it said.
At least 44 protesters were wounded by live ammunition or pellet fire, according to HRANA and separate reporting by Iran International. Dozens of others were injured by beatings, tear gas or during arrests, the reports said.
HRANA warned that the death toll could rise, citing conflicting official accounts, pressure on families and severe limits on information flow.
Iranian authorities have not issued comprehensive public figures on arrests or casualties.