WASHINGTON (AA) – The US said Wednesday that Russia might have a role in instructing Iranian authorities on how to handle ongoing protests in Iran.

“We are concerned that Moscow may be advising Tehran on best practices to manage protests,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said at a news conference.

She said Russia has “extensive experience in suppressing open demonstrations.”

Jean-Pierre was referring to demonstrations in Iran prompted by the death of Mahsa Amini, who died while in police custody last month, and the violent response by authorities.

She said the more Russia and Iran grow closer, the more isolated they become.

“The evidence that Iran is helping Russia rage its war against Ukraine is clear and it is public,” she said. “Our message to Iran is very, very clear. Stop killing your people and stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians”.

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the US is seeing signs that Moscow may be considering helping to train Iranians on cracking down on protestors.

“We know they may be considering some sort of support to Iran’s ability to crack down on protesters. And sadly, Russia has experience at doing that,” Kirby said at the news conference.

He said Moscow and Tehran are working together to violate not only the human rights and civil rights of people in Iran but they are also putting the lives of Ukrainians in danger.

Amini died Sept. 16 under mysterious circumstances after being detained by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating Iran’s Islamic dress code.

Iranian officials have attempted to cast the death of the 22-year-old woman on a heart attack she suffered while in custody but that explanation has fallen flat with protesters. Her family said she was brutally beaten to death.