ABNA: “The Iranian nation came victorious out of yet another historic test, and showed that despite the country’s economic problems and existing grievances about the manner of its management, they would never allow the balance to tilt in favor of the enemy,” the president said, addressing a government meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, Press TV reported.
The recent developments, he added, served to expose both the extent of the enemy’s capability and the level of the nation’s steadfastness, magnanimity, and grandeur.
The government raised gasoline prices last week in order to moderate the national consumption rate, which stands at 110 million liters per day, 40 million liters above the maximum domestic requirement.
The move prompted some peaceful protests, but riotous elements, abusing the situation, quickly entered the scene, destroying public property, setting ablaze banks and gas stations among other facilities, and opening fire on people and security forces.
Shortly after the price hike was announced, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei punctually warned that protests against the decision could be used by agitators, which were being informed and equipped by the country’s enemies.
Rouhani further said, through their performance during the unrest, the people showed that they are acutely aware of the enemy’s disruptive schemes and attempts made against the country by foreign and terrorist apparatuses.
The people truly revealed that they would not fall for such machinations, Rouhani added.
The rioters were few, but were “organized, armed and tasked with acting in a calculated manner,” the president said. “They took action completely based on a scheme pre-planned by the reactionary regional regimes, the Zionists, and the Americans,” he added.
The incidents unveiled the very small scale of the forces at the disposal of the enemies of the Iranian nation, which have been undertaking extensive planning to prime the anarchists, Rouhani noted.
The chief executive, meanwhile, explained how the price increase was meant to moderate the rate of fuel consumption across Iran so the country will not encounter any trouble in its efforts to satisfy its energy needs.
He added that the government has simultaneously allocated fuel subsidies to as many as 18 million households, around 12 million of which have already received the assistance.
The president also thanked the Leader for the punctual remarks that served to guide the nation in its confrontation against enemy schemes.
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