Iran Says U.S., Britain Encouraging Unrest in Iran

Los Angeles Times ^ | August 14, 2005 | By NASSER KARIMI, Associated Press Writer

[F14 Pilot]

Iran accused the US and Britain of stoking the unrest that has broken out among its Kurdish and Arab minorities.

FM spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi offered little evidence for his allegations, but he suggested that Washington and London were giving encouragement to Arabs and Kurds who have rioted in western and northwestern Iran.

"This is not acceptable at all," Asefi told a news conference.

Asefi said the United States is "stuck" in Iraq and is trying to divert attention from its plight by sowing unrest across the border.

Under U.S. protection, Iraq's Kurds have enjoyed autonomy and a booming economy, fueled partly by trade with Iran. Iraq's ascendant Kurds engage in contacts -- including lucrative exports of illegal liquor and other goods -- with their kin across the border.

On Thursday, Human Rights watch said at least 17 people had been killed and hundreds more injured and arrested in anti-government protests in IRAN

The NY based rights group blamed the killings on Iranian security forces and said their indiscriminate shooting had also wounded hundreds of people.

Asefi also said April riots in Iran's western Khuzestan province that left at least one protester dead were encouraged by the British presence in Iraq. Khuzestan borders southern Iraq, where security is under the control of British troops in the multinational force.

"Some provocateurs were trained in a part of Iraq which is under control of Britain," Asefi said. "We have made objections and warned Britain about the repercussions of such behavior."

In Kurdistan, the unrest rocked several towns over the past month. The killings and arrests led to more protests, with shopkeepers shuttering their businesses and the government closing down two newspapers and detaining journalists and activists.

Security forces were also said to be among those hurt and killed in the unrest.

[F14 Pilot]

Human Rights Watch on Iran

[pillbox_girl]

Somehow, I doubt this is true, but if it is, then so what? The nuclear ambitions of the mullahs must be stopped somehow. Clearly a diplomatic solution is impossible. So what then? If we can end the Iranian nuclear threat with a revolution, then we won't need to end it with bombs.

[ThirstyMan]

What? Did the Brits teach them how to stop bullets with their bodies?

[Adrastus]

I'm shocked, do you hear. Shocked! The very idea that someone would provoke the peaceful, happy ....and don't forget secure...citizens of the wonderful Islamic Republic is beyond comprehension.

What a hypocritical bunch of hounds. Good Luck Kurds and Arabs in Iran.

[McGavin999]

Right, we're the ones who made the people hate the mullahs, sure.

[denydenydeny]

All this while Americans die from smuggled Iranian munitions.

[America's Resolve]

If we aren't encouraging the unrest, I'd be very disappointed in our govt.

[A.B.Normal]

Personally, I do not doubt it is true. BUSH warned terrorists they would be sought out. Most recently, I recall Runmsfeld saying that IED's found bore direct links to Tehran. As ye sow, so shall ye reap - go ahead make those nukes!

[Stellar Dendrite]

These douchebags are sending bombs and insurgents into Iraq! They are lucky we're not doing more!!!

[Alexander Rubin]

Damn straight.

[F14 Pilot]

WTF?