Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the latest developments in Iran with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi. This exchange took place during a telephone call.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry revealed the occurrence of the call but did not provide further details about its content. The dialogue between the two ministers comes amid significant unrest in Iran.

On January 28, protests erupted in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar as merchants voiced their frustration over the sharp decline in the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. These protests quickly spread to other cities across the country.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the public discontent and took responsibility for the economic troubles, urging officials to refrain from blaming external parties such as the United States for the situation.

Iranian authorities have not disclosed official figures regarding casualties. However, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 664 people had died as of the sixteenth day of the protests, including 133 security personnel, a prosecutor, and nine minors. Additionally, HRANA noted the arrest of 10,721 people amidst the escalating violence and intensified police interventions.

In response to the unrest, internet services were cut off nationwide on the 9th of the month, further complicating the situation.