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Iranian protesters chanted and marched through the streets into the early hours of Friday after the country’s exiled crown prince called for peaceful demonstrations, even as Iran’s theocracy cut off public access to the Internet and international phone calls.
Short online videos shared by activists show protesters chanting against the Iranian government amid rubble in the capital Tehran and elsewhere. Iran’s state media broke its silence on the protests on Friday, saying US and Israeli “terrorist agents” had set the fires and incited the violence. He also said there were “disadvantages” without elaborating.
State TV’s acknowledgment at 8pm on Friday represented the first official word on the demonstrations.
Iran’s top leader signaled on Friday that security forces would crack down on protesters, directly contradicting their pledge to support peaceful protesters. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blasted Trump as having “Iranian blood on his hands.”
Protesters are destroying their own streets to please the president of the United States, Khamenei told a crowd at his compound in Tehran. Because he said he would come to help them, he should instead pay attention to the state of the country.
Iran’s chief justice, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, described the punishments for the protesters as “decisive, high and without any legal punishment.”
Dozens have been killed so far, according to human rights organizations
The full scale of the protests was not immediately known due to a communications blackout, although it still marks the beginning of protests against Iran’s deteriorating economy and is one of the most important challenges to the government in several years. Since December 28, protests have continued in earnest.
The protests represent the first test that the Iranian people can be manipulated by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late ruler Shah, who left Iran in exile before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The protests have included chants of support for the Shah, who in the past could have been sentenced to death but now underlines his anger at the protests against Iran’s economy.
So far, at least 42 people have been killed and more than 2,270 people have been arrested in clashes surrounding the peaceful demonstrations, according to the US-based Human Rights Watch.
Pahlavi, who had called for protests on Thursday night, had similarly called for a rally at 8 pm on Friday.
Eyewitnesses said that when the clock reached 8:00 pm on Thursday, neighborhoods around Tehran erupted in chants. The chants were “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!”
Others said, “This is the final battle! Pahlavi is coming back!” They shouted and praised Shah. Thousands will be seen in the streets ahead of the severance of relations with Iran.
“Iranians have demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the Iranian regime has cut off all lines of communication,” Pahlavi said. “He’s shut down the Internet, he’s cut off landlines, he may even try to jam satellite signals.”
He went on to say that European leaders have pledged to “hold the regime accountable” alongside Trump.
“I call on the people of Iran to use all technical, financial and diplomatic resources to restore relations with the people of Iran so that their voice and will is heard and seen.” “Let not the voice of my fellow warriors be stifled.”
This is not the time to meet Pahlavi, says Trump
Pahlavi had said that he would present more plans based on the response to the call.
In some demonstrations, demonstrators have chanted in support of the Shah, but it is unclear whether this is support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to the pre-1979 Islamic revolution. Pahlavi It has been criticized. To communicate with Israel.
Iran has faced nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions tighten and Iran struggles after the 12-day war, the rial plunged to 1.4 million to 1 US dollar in December. Protests soon began, with protesters chanting against Iran’s theocracy.
It is not clear why the Iranian authorities have not yet taken strong action against the protesters. Trump warned last week that America would “come to the rescue” if Tehran “brutally kills peaceful protesters”.
Radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt reiterated Trump’s promise in an interview that aired Thursday.
Asked if Trump would meet with Pahlavi, he demurred.
“I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do as president at this time,” Trump said. “I think we should let everybody go out there, and we’ll see who comes out.”
In a separate interview with Fox News, Trump went so far as to say that Ayatollah Khamenei might want to leave Iran.
“He’s looking to go somewhere,” Trump said. “It’s getting really bad.”