Iran interior ministry labels protests as 'riots' in parliament briefing

Iran’s Interior Ministry described recent protests as “riots” in a report to parliament and said about 85% of calls to take part were made through foreign platforms, according to lawmakers briefed on the report.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, said Security Deputy Interior Minister Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian told lawmakers that “rioters destroyed government buildings as well as private and public vehicles,” and said “most of those injured were police, security forces and Basij members,” adding that forces had acted with “restraint.”

Rezaei said the deputy minister also told the commission that “security is established” and that the trend in incidents was “declining,” while some lawmakers urged officials to “speak with the people” and address the roots of protests.