Iran's Burning Mosques: Who is Behind the Arson? Government Blames Foreign Spies

• Mosques and madrasas were set ablaze during protests in Iran, prompting the Khamenei government to blame foreign enemies and 'trained terrorists'.
• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed 250 mosques were destroyed, labeling perpetrators as 'wicked' and 'trained actors'.
• President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed these claims, accusing 'Mossad mercenaries' of burning religious sites like Imam Sadegh Mosque and Abu Zar Mosque.
• Skepticism arises due to strict censorship; some analysts suggest a 'false flag' operation, citing historical precedents and a former president's confession about security forces instigating violence.
• If protesters are involved, analysts argue it's an attack on 'power hidden behind the guise of religion', as mosques have become strongholds for Basij forces and even secret detention centers.

Why It Matters: The burning of mosques in Iran sparks debate: government blames foreign agents, while critics suspect state-sponsored 'false flag' operations or a protest against religious authority.