Iran leader vows to act decisively for security

DUBAI — Iran must deal decisively to restore national order at a time when social unrest is undermining the country's security, President Ebrahim Raisi said on Saturday.

Raisi made the remark when he was speaking on the telephone to the family of a Basij volunteer force member killed while taking part in an operation against the unrest in the northeastern Mashhad city.

Raisi "stressed the necessity to distinguish between protest and disturbing public order and security, and called the events ...a riot", state media reported.

Iran must "deal decisively with those who oppose the country's security and tranquillity", Raisi was quoted as saying.

The protests broke out in northwestern Iran a week ago at the funeral of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who died after falling into a coma following her detention in Teheran by police enforcing hijab rules on women's dress.

Activists said she suffered a blow to the head in custody, but this has not been confirmed by the authorities, who have opened an investigation.

Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi insisted Amini had not been beaten. He said the authorities are still investigating the cause of her death. "We must wait for the final opinion of the medical examiner, which takes time," he added.

State television reported that the death toll had risen to 41. It aired footage of rioters on the streets in north and west Teheran as well as some provinces, and said they had set fire to public and private property.

"In some western and northern areas of Teheran and certain provinces, rioters destroyed public property," it said, carrying footage of protesters setting fire to garbage bins and a car, marching and throwing stones.

Iran's judiciary said "rioters attacked three Basij bases" in Oshnaviyeh.

On Friday, rallies took place in several Iranian cities to counter the anti-government protests.

Agencies Via Xinhua