Washington, DC – The US State Department, through its official Persian-language account on the X platform, responded to the Iranian government’s continued attempts to portray protesters as “terrorists.” The department emphasized that this narrative no longer convinces the international community.
The ministry’s statement read: “The Islamic Republic’s labeling of protesters as ‘rioters’ and ‘terrorists’ does not fool the world.” The statement added unequivocally that “these are merely labels used to justify violence, nothing more.” This hardline stance comes as Iranian authorities escalate their hostile rhetoric amid the widening scope of popular protests. Officials have intensified their use of the term “terrorism” as a legal and political cover to justify violent security crackdowns against civilians.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has been working intensively in recent days to defend its excessive use of force. These efforts have included summoning ambassadors and representatives of foreign countries to Tehran. They were briefed on the official narrative and shown documentaries alleging the protesters’ involvement in acts of sabotage. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi’s remarks were exploited to try to legitimize the escalating repression. Despite these attempts, the international response has been disappointing for Tehran. Strong stances have emerged from international leaders and organizations who consider labeling the protesters as terrorists a means of justifying violence and human rights violations.
