TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of pro-government citizens took to the streets across Iran on Monday, responding to calls from Iranian authorities to demonstrate solidarity.
State media broadcast images of large crowds converging on Enghelab Square in the capital, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as "Death to America," "Death to Israel," and "Death to the enemies of God."
Similar gatherings were reported in cities including Kerman, Zahedan, and Birjand, as well as at a funeral procession for security personnel killed in Shahrud, Semnan province. Broadcasters described the events as a "popular uprising against American-Zionist terrorism."
On Saturday, Iran's Islamic Development Coordination Council called on people to stage a protest on Monday afternoon to condemn the "terrorist actions of U.S. and Israeli agents."
Earlier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that the situation in Iran is "under total control" while denouncing the United States for intervening.
According to Araghchi, the demonstrations were "stoked and fuelled" by foreign elements, and security forces would "hunt down" those responsible.
He said that Iran has obtained evidence of U.S. and Israeli involvement in domestic "terrorist activities," including footage showing weapons being distributed to protesters, and that authorities will soon release confessions of detainees.
A protest broke out late last month across Iran over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. It soon spiraled into nationwide unrest, with clashes reported between police and protesters.
Over the past two weeks, at least 111 members of Iran's security forces were killed in the unrest, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Casualty figures for protesters have not been officially released. ■
