No trace of toxic substances in alleged school poisoning attacks: Iran

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Apr 2023 12:20

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry says non-toxic chemicals were used in the alleged poisoning school incidents that sparked public fear in recent months.

Iranian flag flies in front of the UN office building, housing IAEA headquarters, in Vienna, Austria, May 24, 2021 (Reuters)

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry revealed on Friday the findings of an in-depth investigation into the alleged poisoning attacks across Iran that began in late November in the city of Qom and affected school students, mostly females.

In a statement, the Ministry found that no poisonous substances were employed in the attacks, pointing out that non-toxic chemicals were used in the incidents that sparked public fear in recent months.

The Ministry noted that the attacks were in parallel with violent Western-led anti-Iran riots that followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in mid-September.

"There was an inverse relationship between the gradual decline of riots and the rapid rise of the incidents resulting in the publicization of the students’ infirmity," the statement indicated.

"Toxic substances have not been spread in any of the country’s schools, but non-toxic agents that have caused panic have been used inadvertently or intentionally in some reported settings," it pointed out.

According to the Iranian Intelligence Ministry, a number of individuals charged with using these substances were identified, summoned, or arrested, as well as presented to the judicial authorities.

Iranian President #EbrahimRaisi has accused "Tehran's enemies" of the recent mass poisoning of schoolgirls throughout the nation in a speech he delivered to a crowd in southern #Iran. pic.twitter.com/DW4PZUMj8B
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 6, 2023

The statement said that while there has been no network for the distribution of toxic substances in the country, there are numerous cyber networks both inside and outside the country that spread rumors in order to incite fear, close schools, provoke parents to protest, and deliberately accuse the Islamic establishment.

It noted that several similar networks have been tracked and identified, and all of their members have been or will be punished.

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry pointed to the "completely obvious and undeniable" role of Iran's enemies in fueling the incidents, adding that Western media, individuals, centers, and groups have focused heavily on the matter in the past few months.

"Also a number of foreign politicians and foreign institutions and international organizations, who played the role of fueling the conflict, formed a link in the chain of the hybrid warfare," the statement said.

The Ministry affirmed that Iran is "determined to deal seriously and without complacency" with those fueling the incidents.

"The right to the legal prosecution of individuals, groups, media, and affiliated human media who made accusations against the establishment or against innocent people and movements along the lines of the enemies of the Iranian nation will be reserved," it concluded.