Iran Defence Minister Statement: Protests have been going on in Iran for more than two weeks. Iran's Defense Minister made a major statement, saying that this was a conspiracy by foreign powers, with a fixed price.

Big statement by Iranian Defense Minister

On January 15, 2026, Iran's Defense Minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, claimed in an interview with state media that foreign powers (primarily the US and Israel) are behind the ongoing mass protests in the country. He said that foreign intelligence agencies have provided money, weapons, and logistical support to turn these protests violent. A suspect has been arrested who was paid 900 million tomans (approximately US$6,500) to carry out killings and incite unrest.

What are the main claims of the Defence Minister?

• Foreign Conspiracy and Coordination: Iranian intelligence agencies have evidence that the US, Israel, and some Western countries held joint meetings in regional countries to plan for unrest in Iran. These meetings included budget increases and programs for separatist or terrorist activities.
• Fixed rates for violence: Violent acts were subject to fixed rates: 500 million tomans (about US$3,500) for killing a person, 200 million tomans for burning a car, 80 million tomans for burning a police station, and 15 million tomans for any minor disruptive act.
• Attacks on religious and cultural sites: Quran burnings and attacks on mosques and religious sites demonstrate that these were not peaceful protests, but rather those with security and terrorist objectives. These were not protests related to looting or livelihoods.
• Drug use and internal killings: Some militants were given industrial drugs (synthetic drugs) to increase violence. In some cases, leaders staged the deaths of their own members by shooting them at close range to incite public anger. Approximately 60% of deaths were from blows to the head, with many deaths being caused by stabbings, strangulation, or drug overdoses.

Aziz Nasirzadeh said that the clear purpose of paying so much money for murder is to provoke anger and unrest among the public by causing deaths.

The Iranian government is calling the protests a foreign conspiracy.

This statement comes amid widespread protests in Iran that began on December 28, 2025, sparked by inflation, the fall of the rial, and an economic crisis. However, the government has described these protests as a foreign conspiracy and terrorist activity. State media and officials have repeatedly blamed the US and Israel. Opposition and international reports claim that security forces have killed thousands of protesters, while Iran maintains that the deaths were caused by terrorists and security forces. An internet blackout continues, leading to accusations of concealing the truth. US President Donald Trump has warned of threats to the safety of protesters and threatened military action, but recently stated that the killings have stopped.