U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday expressed concern over the «escalating violence» being reported against protesters at protests in Iran.
«Very concerned about reports that Iranian authorities are escalating violence against protesters, particularly in the city of Mahabad,» Blinken has lamented.
«We continue to seek accountability for those involved, while supporting the Iranian people,» the secretary of state has assured, as he has indicated in a message posted on his official account on the social network Twitter.
Iranian police and security forces responded with great violence to a protest called on Saturday night in the Kurdish city of Mahabad, in the northwest of the country, where riot police have made an appearance in tanks and firing indiscriminately against demonstrators, according to DPA agency after collecting eyewitness accounts.
The city was also temporarily without electricity as residents evacuated the wounded. It is not yet known if there are any fatalities.
Tasnim news agency gave a different account of the situation, claiming «armed terrorists» had set fire to private homes and public facilities on Saturday night, sparking panic in the entire city. Several leaders of the suspected terrorist groups were arrested, Tasnim said, citing local security authorities.
This Sunday, Iran’s Judiciary has summoned five actresses and other personalities from the country’s public life to seek explanations for their support of protests against the death in custody of young Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for allegedly wearing the veil incorrectly.
The actresses, identified as Elnaz Shakerdost, Mitra Hayar, Baran Kaushari, Sima Tirranzah and Hengeme Ghaziani, have been cited for posting unspecified «provocative content.»
At least 342 people have been killed, including at least 43 minors and 26 women, during the authorities’ crackdown on protesters over Amini’s death, according to the latest toll this week by the NGO Iran Human Rights.
