Iranian authorities have arrested seven people who are associated with the U.S.-funded Farsi language radio station that broadcasts from Washington and Prague. They were charged with inciting unrest as the Islamic Republic’s regime tries to prevent a massive demonstration called for Thursday.
The suspects allegedly trained outside Iran to learn how to create public disorder, but no identities were released, Associated Press reported. They also were accused of planning to participate in the rally this week that marks the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, which preceded he current fundamentalist Muslim government.
Last month, as the government braced for another huge demonstration, government and religious leaders issued unusually harsh statements saying that opponents should be killed. Opponents have charged the regime with employing scare tactics by carrying out the assassination of a university physics professor several weeks ago and then blaming the protestors for the killing.
The government previously detained two German diplomats for allegedly fostering unrest in December.
It also accused Israel Mossad agents for being behind the demonstrations in December that rocked Tehran and resulted in at least eight deaths and the arrests of hundreds of opponents to the Islamic Republic regime.
The government-controlled Fars News Agency published pictures of three opposition leaders on three points of the six-pointed Star of David with a sign stating “lovers of Israel.” The government also accused Israeli spies of writing a letter for Mir Hossein Mousavi, who lost to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in last June’s voting that opponents say was rigged.