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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Iran Says it Will Not Allow ‘Enemies’ to Undermine its Security

Presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a campaign rally in Tehran, Iran June 15, 2021. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Security is Iran's red line and it will not allow its enemies to undermine it, President Ebrahim Raisi said on Sunday according to state media, at a time when the country is experiencing nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in September.

"Security is a red line” and “we will not allow the enemy to implement in any way its designs to undermine this valuable national asset," Raisi said.

Weeks of protest in Iran entered a more violent phase on Sunday as students defied an ultimatum by the Revolutionary Guards and were met with tear gas, beatings and gunfire from riot police and militia, social media videos showed.

The confrontations at dozens of universities prompted a threat of a tougher crackdown in the seventh week of demonstrations since 22-year-old Amini died after she was arrested by the morality police for attire deemed inappropriate.

Iranians from all walks of life have been protesting since Amini's death.

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