More than 300 people have been charged in Tehran in connection with demonstrations over the death of Mahsa Amini and four of them could face the death penalty, authorities announced on 24 October.

According to Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi, quoted by the Mizan Online judicial authority website, 315 people are charged with “gathering and conspiracy against the security of the country,” as well as “propaganda” and “disturbing public order.”

They are also accused of having “used weapons to terrorize society and the people, injured security agents, set fire to and destroyed public and government property, with the aim of attacking the holy system of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, Ali Salehi added.

“Trials of those who have committed crimes (…) and those who are affiliated with anti-revolutionary agents inside and outside (Iran) and foreigners will be held in accordance with the law. They will be punished,” declared the head of the Judiciary Authority Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, according to Mizan Online.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, lashed out at the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia for forming a sinister triangle against Tehran, and said that the recent unrest in Iran has been “masterminded and steered by Washington, Tel Aviv, and Riyadh”, according to Fars News Agency.

During an interview with the news network Al-Alam on 23 October, Tangsiri said that “our dear youths, who have been deceived [into joining the riots] should realize that foreigners, such as the United States, Israel, and, unfortunately, Saudi Arabia have formed a sinister triangle in this matter”.

Meanwhile, on 5 October, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned UK Ambassador Simon Shercliff to Tehran, over “interventionist comments” made by the British Ministry about the protests sparked by the alleged murder of Mahsa Amini.

The ambassador was summoned two days after British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly urged Iranian authorities to respect the right of peaceful assembly, exercise restraint, and release unfairly detained protesters.

Tehran responded by saying that this “unilateral and selective” statement by the UK illustrates its side against the Islamic Republic.

Iran has been rocked by popular unrest for the past several weeks, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who fell into a coma hours after being detained by the Moral Security Police on 13 September. She passed away in a hospital three days later.