Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Sunday blamed the US for favoring “insecurity” in Iran during a cabinet session, according to an Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) report. The IRNA is the official news agency for the Iranian government.

Raisi referred to the US as a “great evil” and said, “The enemies have been seeking to fuel disappointment in the Iranian society.” Both the US and the UK have condemned the Iranian government’s handling of the ongoing protests in response to the death of Mahsa Amini. On Saturday, US President Joe Biden said, “The Iranian government is so oppressive, you can’t have anything but an enormous amount of respect for those people marching in the streets.” Amnesty International has also called for action against Iran in the wake of the violence and protests.

The nationwide protests broke out after Tehran police arrested Mahsa Amini on September 14 for wearing an “improper” hijab. Amini’s family found out she had been taken to the hospital in a coma two hours later. After two days, the Tehran police reported that she had died in custody. As of October 17, at least 215 people had been killed in the nationwide protests. A recent Iran dispatch reported that the protests were still going on and protestors were still being “severely suppressed” and “shot at.”