Tehran, June 4 (UNI) Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday accused the "enemies" of Iran of stirring up unrest in the country in an effort to try to try and overthrow the Islamic Republic, BBC reported. Khamenei said those who are opposed to Tehran had hoped to use these protests to strike a blow at the country, even as Iran has witnessed weeks of demonstration in several cities over the rising cost of basic food items. Add to that a deadly building collapse in the south-western city of Abadan last month which killed 37 people added fuel to fire and sparked further protests with people blaming the authorities for the incident. Khamenei has long stressed that the prices of food items have soared in the country as a result of the continuing US sanctions against Iran. He accused the country's enemies of trying to turn the Iranian people against the country's regime by conducting a psychological warfare, through the internet, money, and the mobilisation of mercenaries. He said that "The Americans and the Westerners made miscalculations in the past on various questions," adding that "Still today, it's a miscalculation that they think they can make the Iranian nation oppose the Islamic Republic." Demonstrations have also been held in other parts of Iran, with shouts of "death to Khamenei!" heard on unverified video posted on social media - and similar shouts were heard at protests in the southern port city of Bushehr, reports say. UNI ACL