TEHRAN - President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that officials must listen to the grievances of the people.

Pezeshkian made the remarks while visiting the shrine of Imam Khomeini along with his cabinet team on the eve of the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Pointing to the January unrest, Pezeshkian said, “We are duty-bound to listen to the voice and grievances of the protestors and resolve their problem, and we are ready for it.”

However, he said, the protests were hijacked by rioters and foreign-backed elements.

The protests that began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28 over the depreciation of national currency and market instability turned violent in later days, leading to the scorching of buses, damage to public property, attacks on security forces, etc.

“But all know that it was not just a civil protest. Rather, the enemies misused our problems, provoked the people, and sought to split the society.”

 He went on to say, “We have no right to ignore the rights of anybody… Our hearts should be with the people, and change our behavior toward the people.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said that justice in society would thwart all malicious schemes of its adversaries.

“If we act justly, people will recognize and accept it, and in such circumstances, no force can bring a government, a society, or a nation to its knees.”