Tehran, Jan. 9 (LaPresse) – Iranian state media have broken their silence on the protests, claiming that “terrorist agents” from the United States and Israel set fires and triggered violence. They also stated that there were “victims,” without providing further details. Meanwhile, an Internet blackout appears to have taken offline even Iran’s state and semi-official news agencies. The recognition by State TV at 8 a.m. this morning represented the first official statement on the demonstrations. State TV said that the protests included violent episodes that caused victims. It also reported that during the protests “private cars, motorcycles, public places such as the metro, fire trucks, and buses were set on fire.” Iranian protesters shouted and marched through the streets this morning following the call to protest issued by the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. So far, violence at demonstrations in Iran has caused at least 42 deaths, while more than 2,270 people have been arrested, according to the U.S. news agency Human Rights Activists News Agency.