Iran: President calls for protesters ‘to be confronted decisively’ as 35 die

Iran’s President has called for protesters to be “confronted decisively” following the unrest which has sparked across the country.

Authorities have been cracking down on demonstrators after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last week.

Due to the clashes with protesters, at least 35 people have been killed. According to the country’s state media, President Ebrahim Raisi, said the country must “deal decisively with those who oppose the country’s security and tranquility”.

Raisi was speaking by telephone to the family of a member of the Basij volunteer force killed while taking part in the crackdown on unrest in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

The President “stressed the necessity to distinguish between protest and disturbing public order and security, and called the events a riot,” state media reported.

Ms Amini was detained by the morality police who said she was not covering her hair with a headscarf properly.

She later collapsed at a police station in Tehran before falling into a coma and died three days later in hospital on September 16.

Authorities claimed she died from a heart attack but according to her father, Ms Amini suffered bruising to ler legs while in custody.

“The army is ready to defend the security and interests of the Iranian nation against the conspiracies of the enemies,” an army statement said.

“The army personnel fully support their comrades in the police forces, and are ready to deal with the various plots of the enemies.”

Ms Amini’s death has reignited anger over issues including restrictions on personal freedoms in Iran, the strict dress codes for women and an economy reeling from sanctions.

Women have played a prominent role in the protests, waving and burning their veils. Some have publicly cut their hair as furious crowds called for the fall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.