China has so far received no report of Chinese casualties in Iran amid the recent unrest in the country, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday that at least 111 members of Iran's security forces had been killed in clashes since the protests began two weeks ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has topped 200, though this figure could not be independently verified.
"We are closely following the situation in Iran. So far, we have not received any report of casualties among Chinese citizens in Iran. We will make every effort to protect the safety of Chinese nationals in Iran. Chinese citizens in Iran are advised to pay attention to the local security situation and take necessary measures to safeguard their own safety. If assistance is needed, they may contact the Chinese Embassy in Iran or call the consular protection hotline," she said.
No report of Chinese casualties in Iran so far: spokeswoman
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.
Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.
Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.
The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.
Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.
Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest
