“We must defend the rights of the people. We cannot tolerate troublemaking by enemies inside the country,” he said during a meeting with the women staff members of the Interior Ministry, MNA reported.

Purmohammadi made the remarks in reference to recent protests in East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, and Ardebil provinces over the publication of an insulting cartoon in the 'Iran' newspaper.

The fact that the enemies wanted to exploit the protests to create disorder in the country is evidence of their helplessness, he added.

The enemies cannot bear to see Iran making progress, especially in regard to its nuclear breakthrough; therefore, they seek to create instability in the country by provoking ethnic and religious disputes, he noted.

"We will spare no effort to defend the security and lives of the people," he vowed.

Later in the day, Purmohammadi told reporters that the Interior Ministry had formulated strategies to tighten the borders in order to combat the smuggling of weapons into the country.

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