TEHRAN – Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has analyzed and explained Iran’s perspective regarding the recent violent riots across the country in an interview with Islamic Republic of Iran’s Broadcasting (IRIB) which was aired on Saturday.

He said that the Iranian people and the protesters in the business and retail sectors are justified in their complaints about economic problems, but there are others who intend to carry out armed operations.

“It is crucial to separate these militant groups from the public protests,” he added.

In response to a question whether these protests constituted a level of intensity matching the 12-day war on Iran in June, he said: “We are currently in the middle of a war, so after the [12-day] war, there was no ceasefire. There were no agreement and no oversight to implement a ceasefire.”

He said a nation that is already in war must not create an additional crisis for itself. “This is neither rational, nor is it accepted by the people, therefore, it is clear that this is being orchestrated by external actors.”

Saboteurs, mercenaries, and Trump’s ‘arrogant’ intervention

The comments by the top national security official comes after several Iranian cities witnessed protests and violent riots on Thursday and Friday, especially at night time.

Reports, images, and videos indicate that saboteurs set fire to public and private property, disrespected and ignited mosques, statutes, causing extensive damage.

Additionally, over a dozen security forces have been martyred as a result of the riots which Iranian authorities have described some of the incidents as “terrorist attacks.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said on Saturday that the country will never surrender against saboteurs.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that the Islamic Republic will not tolerate the mercenary elements of foreigners and reject anyone who is involved in mercenary measures.

“Everyone should know that the Islamic establishment came to power with the sacrifice of hundreds of noble people,” the Leader asserted.

Taking advantage of Iran’s domestic situation, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued statements regarding Iran’s events.

He made a controversial and threatening remark on Truth Social in which he wrote Washington is “locked and loaded” to intervene militarily against Iran.

Later in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, he opined further about Iran’s domestic affairs, saying that “the enthusiasm to overturn” Iran’s political system is “incredible,” and that some Iranians have died because of “the stampedes.”

Ayatollah Khamenei reacted to Trump’s statements, asserting: “The guy [Trump] who judges and talks about the world arrogantly should know that normally the arrogant people of the world, like Pharoah, Nimrod, Reza Shah and his son, were toppled when they were at the peak of pride. He will be toppled too.”

Targeting Iran’s ‘national, religious identity’

Elsewhere in his interview, Larijani emphasized that the Israeli regime never pursues a single method in war, but rather seeks to surprise and change tactics.

“Shortly after the 12-day war started, the Israeli regime announced that it has achieved its goals and the [Iranian] people must take to the streets [to overthrow the government]. They wanted to create a social crisis,” he said.

Larijani went on to say that the same war has been going on and the regime seeks to create domestic unrest, commit terrorist attacks, “and then supplement it with a military operation.”

The security official also pointed to Trump’s recent provocative statements as proof.

“They want to target our point of strength, namely, the Iranian national unity,” he said, adding that “our armed forces are vigilant and prepared.”

“The enemy is targeting the Iranian national and religious identity as they have burned Iran’s flag.  Another symbol of our identity, the statute of our national soldier [martyr General] Haj Qassem Soleimani, was [also disrespected] and toppled. The enemy is also seeking to break our religious identity; hence our mosques have been burned,” the top security official explained.

‘U.S.-Israeli involvement clearly visible’

Earlier, in a Friday interview with Al Mayadeen, Larijani said “the involvement of the United States and Israel is clearly visible” in the latest riots in Iran, as the two regimes are seeking to “prepare the ground for foreign intervention in the country.”

The U.S. and Israel are making attempts to ignite civil war in Iran in order to lay the ground for foreign intervention, he said, adding that the armed terrorist ring leaders are attempting to create civil war in Iran.

Commenting on Thursday riots, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said in a statement that the U.S. and Israel have not abandoned their hostilities toward the Iranian nation following their joint war on Iran in June.

“During the 12-day war and since that war, the Israeli regime has been pursuing its tyranny against the Iranian people through hybrid battles. It has changed tactics, but has not abandoned its warmongering toward the Iranian nation,” the statement read.

The recent incidents began with protests against market instability but they led to insecurity as a result of planning by the Israeli regime, the statement further said, adding that remarks by Trump over the past several days indicate that Washington and the Israeli regime have made joint planning to create insecurity in Iran.

The Iranian nation, however, will foil the enemy’s projects through national solidarity, unity, and cohesion, the statement emphasized.