Since taking office, the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian has been making its utmost effort to prevent violent scenes like the ones that happened recently, the spokesperson said on Monday during her weekly press briefing in Tehran.

However, she added, the peaceful protests by the youth and other groups of people raising civil demands were exploited by terrorist groups. Despite the violence, the administration will continue efforts to hear the voices of the protesters and expresses solidarity with the citizens harmed in the unrest, said Mohajerani.

She noted that the administration has held meetings with the protesters’ representatives in different provinces, and is continuing efforts to resolve the economic problems faced by the people.

What is specifically pursued is to resolve the economic issues as well as issues that harm production or affect economic enterprises, she explained.

Fact-finding mission formed

As part of other efforts, President Pezeshkian has also instructed that a special working group of socialists is formed to determine the root causes of anger among the youth with the aim of identifying the issues the enemy has misused to exploit the latest protests, Mohajerani said.

According to the spokesperson, the working group was formed following the administration’s meeting with the protesters’ representatives. 

“What we witnessed over the past several days was a mixture of questions, concerns, hopelessness, and demands,” she said, adding that the current administration admits that it has failed in some cases, but all the existing issues are not the result of its performance.

Mohajerani emphasized that the administration has heard and continues to hear the voices of the people, even those strongly critical of it, while efforts should be made to raise hope in society, especially the youth.

No foreigner will create hope or build the future, and the government is obliged to convey this fact to the public, the spokesperson concluded.