The Iranian military says it is ready to fight the ongoing protests in the country. The announcement was made today by army, Revolutionary Guard and police commanders in a joint letter to Iran’s Supreme Spiritual Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as reported by ISNA news agency. “We will destroy the diabolical plans of the Islamic Republic’s enemies,” the commanders’ letter read, according to ISNA.
Khamenei described the anti-government protests that have been going on for three weeks as a foreign conspiracy. According to the constitution, not only does he have the last word in all strategic matters, but he is also the supreme commander of the country’s armed forces.
So far, police and volunteers from Islamic groups have been mobilized in response to the protests.
Death of Amini: Official report rules out police violence
Meanwhile, the state institute of forensic medicine has ruled out police violence in connection with the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. According to the Misan news portal, the report on Amini’s death explains that the Iranian Kurd had suffered from a thyroid disease since childhood.
AP/Maya Alleruzzo
Investigations would have shown that previous illness after his arrest led to heart failure – which led to his death. Police violence is ruled out because no traces of a blow to the head on the body were found.
Parents: No previous illness
Amini’s parents have repeatedly denied their daughter’s previous illness in recent weeks. She was perfectly healthy until she was arrested by the religious police and all claims to the contrary were lies, the family said.