It has witnessed dozens of arrests since last month, but there is still speculation about the perpetrators. Many politicians suspect this is the work of groups that want to end girls’ education in Iran.

The Iranian ministry said earlier in a statement that “hostile groups” are trying to “sow panic among people and students and close schools” with the poisoning. According to the ministry, there may be a link to an opposition group in exile in Albania.

The victims believe that these are acts of reprisal, due to the widespread protests in Iran, in which many female students are also involved. The poisonings sparked new protests. People have been demonstrating against the regime for months. This is deeply detrimental to long prison sentences and executions for protesters.

The reason for the widespread protests was the death of Mahsa Amini last September. The 22-year-old woman died after being arrested by the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice for allegedly not wearing a headscarf properly.

In any case, the poisoning appears to be targeted, since the target was girls’ schools in almost all cases. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the perpetrators must be severely punished.