SW News: The investigation into a string of instances involving toxic fumes that injured students at girls' schools was ordered by Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday.

Since November, about 700 girls have been poisoned with toxic gas in Iran, which many people believe was done on purpose to shut down their schools. No girls have died, but dozens have suffered respiratory problems, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

Some officials believe these incidents are related to attacks on women's education. Authorities originally dismissed the instances, only now they are admitting to the crisis. The deputy health minister stated on Sunday that it had become clear that some people wanted to close all schools, particularly those for girls. Later, he claimed that his comments had been misinterpreted.

The poisoning incidents have been especially concentrated in Qom, which has significant Shia Muslims and is the center of the Islamic Republic's religious establishment. The widespread demonstrations that erupted in September following the custodial death of a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police for reportedly not wearing her hijab "correctly," have put the religious establishment under tremendous pressure.

Some Iranians believe that the poisoning of the schoolgirls may be "retaliation" for their involvement in the protests. Videos of girls pulling off their headscarves and screaming anti-establishment phrases were widely shared on social media.

Children have reported feeling dizzy, lethargic, or otherwise unable to move. Others claimed to smell cleaning agents, chlorine, and tangerines.

President Raisi stated at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the Interior Ministry should investigate the occurrences with assistance from the health and intelligence ministries and quickly make the findings public. This is the first time he has publicly addressed the poisonings.