U.S.-China Taiwan Conflict Could Trigger Nuclear Escalation, IISS Warns 
US Southern Command Chief Holds Rare Military Meeting With Cuban Officials at Guantanamo Bay 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand Access to Federal Lands in the U.S. 
US Imposes Fresh Iran Oil Sanctions Despite Progress on Ceasefire Talks 
Trump Nears Decision on Iran Ceasefire Extension as Key Disputes Remain 
Poland Considers Revoking Zelensky’s Top Honor Over Controversial UPA Army Unit Recognition 
UN Blacklists Israel and Russia Over Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Claims 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
China Expands Nuclear Defense Network in Remote Desert 
Netanyahu Orders Expansion of Israeli Control in Gaza to 70% 
Brazil Struggles to Stop Illegal Amazon Gold Mining as Gold Prices Surge 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
US Condemns Russia’s Oreshnik Missile Strike, Warns Against New Attacks on Kyiv 
Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Against Boston Sanctuary City Policy 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
US-Iran Ceasefire Extension Near as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Deal Advances 
U.S. Lawmakers Back Ukraine’s Request for More Patriot Missiles Amid Rising Russian Attacks 
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sought to blame its rivals Israel and the United States for the ongoing protests in the country over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Khamenei accused the two countries of trying to stop Iran’s progress.
In his first comments since the protests began, Khamenei called the demonstrations “riots” during his speech at a police university in Iran. Khamenei was mainly silent on the ongoing protests following the death of Amini, who died in the custody of the country’s Morality Police, sparking public outrage.
Khamenei also went further to paint foreign governments as responsible for the protests, saying that the protests were part of a foreign effort to destabilize Iran.
“I say explicitly that these riots and this insecurity were a design by the US and the occupying, fake Zionist regime and those who are paid by them, and some traitorous Iranians abroad helped them,” said Khamenei.
“In the accident that happened, a young woman passed away, which also pained us, but reactions to her death before investigations…when some come to make the streets insecure, burn Qurans, take hijabs off covered women, and burn mosques and people’s cars – they’re not a normal, natural reaction,” said the Iranian leader.
Khamenei went on to claim that the unrest was an attempt to derail Iran’s progress despite the sanctions that Washington imposed since unilaterally withdrawing from the 2018 nuclear deal under Donald Trump.
The US is reportedly considering imposing further sanctions on Tehran but eased some internet sanctions to help Iranians bypass government restrictions on the internet that were imposed when the protests started.
US President Joe Biden said in a statement Monday that his administration will be imposing “further costs” on those responsible for the violence against the protesters.
The US leader expressed “grave concern” regarding the reports of increasing violence during the demonstrations that were led by Iranian women and girls, “who are demanding their equal rights and basic human dignity.”
Dozens of people were reportedly killed from the violence that ensued during the protests, while many others have been arrested. Authorities have yet to release an official tally.
