Protests in Iran Continue: 240 People Killed, President Raisi Blames Joe Biden of Instigating Chaos and Terror

JAKARTA - President Ebrahim Raisi blamed US President Joe Biden for inciting chaos, terror and destruction in Iran, according to the official IRNA news agency, as protests in the country enter their fourth week.

"The American president, who allowed himself through his comments to incite chaos, terror and destruction in other countries, must be reminded of the eternal words of the founder of the Islamic Republic, who called America the great devil," President Raisi said.

Earlier, President Biden at the weekend called on Iran's leaders to end violence against their own citizens.

"Iran must end violence against its own citizens simply by exercising their basic rights," President Biden criticized Saturday.

The protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, on September 16, have turned into one of the boldest challenges to Iran's clerical rulers since the 1979 revolution, with protesters calling for the fall of the Islamic Republic.

Demonstrations continued at several universities on Sunday, including in the cities of Tabriz and Rasht, leading up to the massive deployment of riot police. Videos posted on social media showed students at Tehran universities chanting: "Iran has turned into a big prison. Evin prison has become a slaughterhouse."

Another video showed fires burning at crossroads in several cities, including the capital and Piranshahr in the west of the country, where car drivers honked and anti-government slogans were heard.

Dozens of protesters were also seen in Tehran's impoverished neighborhoods, before being dispersed by security forces riding motorbikes and firing tear gas canisters into the air.

The protests, met with repressive actions by the authorities, have so far left at least 240 protesters dead, including 32 minors, according to rights groups.

Meanwhile, more than 8.000 people have been arrested in 111 cities and towns, Iran's activist news agency HRANA said on Saturday. Authorities have not published the death toll.

Iranian authorities deny that security forces have killed protesters. State media said on Saturday at least 26 members of the security forces had been killed by "rioters".