Iran’s supreme leader said that anyone responsible for poisoning girls’ schools in Iran should be executed for “unforgivable crimes”.

According to state media and officials, more than 1000 children have fallen ill in 25 of 31 provinces since November.

“If poisoning students is proved, those responsible should be sentenced at capital punishment. There will be no amnesty,” stated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, quoted by the state news agency IRNA.

Ahmad Vahidi, Interior Minister, stated that suspicious samples had been collected over the weekend but encouraged people to remain calm.

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He claimed that at least 52 schools in the country were affected by the attack and that unnamed enemies of his republic were trying to incite fear.

According to state media, at least one school for boys in Borujerd’s western city was also affected.

Officials have not provided any details on the chemicals used or who may be responsible. However, they have stated that test results will soon be made public.

Protests erupted in several cities after photos of girls wearing oxygen masks connected to intravenous drips were shown. The anger was also directed at Iran‘s Revolutionary Guard.

Children affected by the disease have reported feeling dizzy, heart palpitations, headaches, lethargy, and feeling unable or unable to move. However, no one has been confirmed to have died.

Some people described the smell of chlorine, tangerines or cleaning products.

Last year’s anti-government protests over the death of 22-year old Mahsa Amini, which took place in police custody, saw schoolgirls take part.

Some were seen removing their headscarves and tearing up photos of the Ayatollah, calling for his execution.

The apparent poisonings may be an act of vengeance for the activism or a general attack on girls’ education.

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The UN human rights office in Geneva called for transparent investigations into the suspected attacks. Other countries, including the USA, expressed concern.

Similar cases of suspected poisonings, involving girls from Afghanistan, were reported in 2009 and 2012. However, the World Health Organization (WHO), which found no evidence, said that it was “mass psychogenic diseases”.

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Iranian media reported Monday that Ali Pourtabatabaei (a Qom-based journalist who had been reporting regularly on the case) had been taken into custody.

This is after the Kayhan newspaper, a hardline publication, demanded that publishers who published stories that were critical of Iran’s rulers be arrested.