TEHRAN, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has exchanged views with his Egyptian and Indian counterparts on the recent unrest in Iran.
In two separate phone calls on Wednesday night, he also discussed the latest regional developments as well as bilateral ties with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, according to statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Araghchi expounded on the events that had unfolded in Iran over the past few days, saying the Iranian people's "peaceful" protests were turned violent by trained "terrorist" individuals affiliated with foreign parties, which led to casualties.
He strongly condemned recent "provocative" remarks by U.S. officials, including U.S. President Donald Trump, saying they constituted a "flagrant interference" in Iran's internal affairs.
Araghchi underlined the Iranian people's vigilance and unity in the face of the "terrorists and terror incidents" over the past few days, highlighting the Iranian people's determination to defend their country's national sovereignty, security and independence against any foreign "malicious act and intervention."
The Egyptian foreign minister underscored the critical importance of close consultations among regional countries to maintain stability and security across the region.
Meanwhile, the Indian foreign minister stressed the need to continue expanding bilateral relations with Iran and called for concerted efforts to uphold stability and prevent any escalation of tensions in the region.
Protests have been held since late last month in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the local currency, the rial. Authorities said they are prepared to address economic grievances, while warning against violence, vandalism, and unrest.
Initially peaceful, the protests gradually escalated into violence, resulting in casualties and damage to public property, including mosques, government buildings, and banks. Iranian authorities have attributed the unrest to interference by the United States and Israel. According to local media reports, many security personnel were also killed during the disturbances. ■
