Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the merchant protests that began on December 28 were calm and legitimate according to the constitution," noting that "the government immediately began talks with the relevant parties and listened to the protesters' demands."

Araghchi added that "armed terrorist groups later infiltrated the ranks of the demonstrators with the aim of diverting the marches from their original course," stressing that "the authorities have evidence that security forces were deliberately fired upon to increase the number of victims."

He explained that "Iran has recordings of voice messages sent to terrorist elements ordering them to shoot at civilians and security forces," pointing out that "most of those who fell during the protests were shot from behind."

A demonstration outside the Iranian Embassy in central London (AFP).

Araghchi considered that "the statements of U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the protests represent interference in Iran's internal affairs," noting that "terrorist elements also targeted government buildings, police stations, and commercial shops," stressing that "Iran is ready for war and also for dialogue."

He also confirmed that "the authorities possess images showing weapons being distributed to demonstrators," considering that "what is happening now cannot be described as protests, but rather a terrorist war on the country," describing some circulating "claims" as strange, and pointing out that "the police are being subjected to direct gunfire."

He added that "Tehran has many documents indicating American and Israeli involvement in what he described as the terrorist movement," stressing that "the situation in the country is now under full control."

Araghchi criticized the positions of some Western countries "which condemn the police instead of condemning terrorism," considering that "Mossad agents, Israel's foreign intelligence agency, were monitoring the protests, and that their interventions were the cause of the violence and killings that occurred."

He concluded by saying that "Iran will pursue everyone who interfered from inside or outside the country and was responsible for killing Iranians," calling on the countries that took wrong positions regarding the protests to reverse them.