Discussing protests in Iran following the government’s decision to raise gas prices, IRGC commander Hossein Salami declared that “we were monitoring. The U.S. brought all its power onto the scene, including pressure, maximum psychological warfare and internal mercenary infantry”. In related remarks, Iran’s chief army contended that “people do not keep mum vis-a-vis the rioters who are led by the U.S. and attack the great Iranian nation's lives, properties and honour”, while a senior IRGC official claimed that “Israel and the U.S. were behind these incidents”.