Protests are reported in 111 Iranian cities, and the death toll continues to rise. According to human rights organizations, 38 people have been killed in connection with demonstrations and nearly 1,000 have been injured. Over 2,000 protesters have reportedly been arrested.
The protests began on December 28 and are rooted in economic dissatisfaction, but criticism has broadened to target the entire regime in Tehran.
According to Norway-based human rights group IHR, security forces opened fire, used tear gas and violently attacked civilians during a protest in Kerman in the southeastern part of the country on Wednesday.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on security forces to distinguish between legitimate protesters concerned about the economic situation and "rioters" acting against national security.
An Iranian police officer has reportedly been killed in a stabbing near Tehran, local media reported on Thursday.
Iranian authorities have acknowledged the economic demands made by the protesters, but are warning of "riots."
US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with attacks if more protesters are killed in the demonstrations, without specifying what type of intervention that could entail.
On Thursday, Iran accused the US of inciting violence and terror with its "deceptive" statements about support for the protests in the country.
"The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemns the interference and misleading statements by US officials regarding Iran's internal affairs and describes them as a clear indication of Washington's continued hostility towards the great nation of Iran," the ministry wrote in a statement.
State-run Iranian media are reporting sparsely on the protests, and journalists on the ground are severely limited, making it difficult to know exactly what is happening in the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment