January 22, 2026 | 11:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Iran’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mohammad Boroujerdi, claimed that the wave of protests in Iran since late December 2025 has been hijacked by foreign actors, particularly the United States and Israel.
He said that this external interference has transformed initially peaceful demonstrations into armed violence.
Boroujerdi stated that the protests began as a response to economic dissatisfaction, particularly among traders and businesspeople. From December 28 to 31, 2025, demonstrations at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar were largely peaceful.
“These actions were peaceful and within the legal framework,” he said during a press conference at his residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
He added that the Iranian government responded promptly by engaging directly with professional associations and business representatives, incorporating several demands into policy measures.
Escalation and Alleged Foreign Involvement
According to Boroujerdi, the nature of the protests changed during the second phase, from January 1 to 7, 2026, when acts of vandalism and confrontations began. He noted that security forces remained largely unarmed and exercised restraint.
“During this phase, the majority of casualties were actually from the police and security forces,” he said.
From January 8 to 10, 2026, Boroujerdi claimed that armed groups, allegedly directed by foreign intelligence agencies including Mossad and the CIA, carried out attacks on both security personnel and civilians.
He described this as a systematic effort to portray Iran as a human rights violator and justify foreign intervention.
“These are instructions that came from abroad to create as many casualties as possible, even targeting civilians if security forces could not be reached,” he said, citing intercepted communications and confessions from captured perpetrators.
Government Response and Casualty Figures
In the fourth phase, from January 10, the Iranian government implemented strict security measures, including restrictions on internet access, to cut foreign influence and regain control.
Boroujerdi highlighted nationwide protests on January 12, which drew millions of participants, as evidence of public rejection of violence.
He provided official casualty figures, stating that Iran’s forensic police recorded 3,117 deaths, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel. He described approximately two-thirds of the casualties as “martyrs.”
Property damage reportedly included 180 ambulances, 53 fire trucks, more than 53 mosques, 26 banks, the main post office in Eslamabad-e Gharb, and around 200 shops and homes. Authorities also seized over 1,300 firearms. Iran declared a three-day national mourning period from January 11 to 13, 2026.
Boroujerdi criticized Western media coverage, accusing some outlets of exaggerating casualty figures and echoing political narratives from foreign governments. He also condemned the use of the term “Iranian regime” in reporting.
“The term is inaccurate, unprofessional, and politically charged. It reflects bias, not facts,” he said.
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