Will Donald Trump intervene to stop/take advantage of the protests in Iran?

[BouncerGuy]

Several killed as Iran protests over rising cost of living spread

At least six people have been killed as demonstrations over the soaring cost of living in Iran spread to more parts of the country.

At least three people were killed and 17 others were injured at protests in the city of Azna in Lorestan province, some 300km (185 miles) southwest of Tehran, Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

Videos shared online appeared to show objects in the street ablaze and gunfire echoing as people shouted: “Shameless! Shameless!”

Earlier, Fars said two people were killed during protests in the city of Lordegan, about 470km (290 miles) south of the capital Tehran in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.

“Some protesters began throwing stones at the city’s administrative buildings, including the provincial governor’s office, the mosque, the Martyrs’ Foundation, the town hall and banks,” Fars said, adding that police responded with tear gas.

Online videos showed demonstrators gathered on a street, with the sound of gunfire in the background.

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian state television also reported that a member of security forces was killed overnight during protests in the western city of Kouhdasht.

“A 21-year-old member of the Basij from the city of Kouhdasht was killed last night by rioters while defending public order,” the channel said, quoting Said Pourali, the deputy governor of Lorestan province.

The Basij are a volunteer force linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The reports come days after shopkeepers began protesting on Sunday over the government’s handling of a currency slide and rapidly rising prices.

The unrest comes at a critical moment for Iran as Western sanctions hammer an economy hit by 40 percent inflation, and after air strikes by Israel and the United States in June targeted the country’s nuclear infrastructure and military leadership.

Get instant alerts and updates based on your interests. Be the first to know when big stories happen.

Yes, keep me updated

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi explained that the government has taken a more cautious approach to this week’s protests than it did to previous demonstrations.

“The government says it’s working hard to find a solution, to deal with the economic hardships that people are feeling,” Asadi said.

Iran last saw mass demonstrations in 2022 and 2023 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.

The latest protests began peacefully in Tehran and spread after students from at least 10 universities joined in on Tuesday.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sought to calm tensions, acknowledging protesters’ “legitimate demands” and calling on the government to take action to improve the economic situation.

“From an Islamic perspective … if we do not resolve the issue of people’s livelihoods, we will end up in hell,” Pezeshkian said at an event broadcast on state television.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Thursday the authorities would hold a direct dialogue with representatives of trade unions and merchants, without providing details.

Still, the authorities have promised to take a “firm” stance and warned against exploiting the situation to sow chaos.

“Any attempt to turn economic protests into a tool of insecurity, destruction of public property, or implementation of externally designed scenarios will inevitably be met with a legal, proportionate and decisive response,” Iran’s prosecutor general said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency on Wednesday evening reported the arrests of seven people it described as being affiliated with “groups hostile to the Islamic Republic based in the United States and Europe”.

Iran is in the middle of an extended weekend, with the authorities declaring Wednesday a bank holiday at the last minute, citing the need to save energy due to cold weather.

Several killed as Iran protests over rising cost of living spread

Iranian president seeks to calm tensions, acknowledging protesters' 'legitimate' grievances over inflation.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Bhaijaan]

Tough times for Ayatollah. Iranian dictatorship doesn’t have the luxury of having to only manage docile population of mostly eunuchs as in case of certain other dictatorships like Korea, UK, Pakistan etc

 

[KingKhanWC]

Pls merge , every year a thread is started on some Iranian protests , people from Bihar are excited but nothing happens . Regime change won’t happen with a few hundred protesters

 

[sweep_shot]

Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

 

[BouncerGuy]

At least 36 people killed during Iran protests, rights group says

At least 36 people have been killed during the last 10 days of protests across Iran, a human rights group has said.

The foreign-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 34 of those confirmed killed were protesters and two were affiliated with security forces.

Iranian authorities have not published an official death toll but said three security personnel have been killed. BBC Persian has so far confirmed the deaths and identities of 20 people.

HRANA also said that more than 60 protesters had been injured and 2,076 arrested during the unrest, which was sparked by an economic crisis and has spread to 27 of 31 provinces.

On Tuesday evening, Iranian semi-official media reported that a policeman was shot dead by what they called "rioters" in Malekshahi in the western province of Ilam, where there have been widespread protests and a violent crackdown by security forces in recent days.

Earlier, security forces were filmed firing tear gas during clashes with protesters who chanted slogans against Iran's clerical rulers at Tehran's Grand Bazaar.

The protests began on 28 December, when shopkeepers took to the streets of the capital to express their anger at another sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency against the US dollar on the open market.

The rial has sunk to a record low over the past year and inflation has soared to 40% as sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme squeeze an economy also weakened by mismanagement and corruption.

University students soon joined the protests and they began spreading to other cities.

On Friday, President Donald Trump threatened US intervention if Iranian security forces killed peaceful protesters, declaring: "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."

The following day, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - who has ultimate power - said that "rioters should be put in their place" and vowed not to "yield to the enemy".

Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei echoed the comments on Monday, saying authorities would listen those who "legitimately and rightly have concerns about their livelihood" but also show no leniency towards "rioters".

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was "deeply saddened by the reported loss of life and injuries resulting from clashes between security forces and protesters", and "underscores the need to prevent any further casualties", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

"All individuals must be allowed to protest peacefully and express their grievances," he added.

In the videos from Tuesday's protest in Tehran's Grand Bazaar, which were obtained by BBC Persian, a large crowd gathered on a covered street can be heard chanting "Death to the dictator" - a reference to Khamenei.

Later, the protesters are seen running away from a cloud of tear gas and shouting "Dishonourable" at a group of riot police nearby. Footage filmed from the roof of a neighbouring building shows the crowd fleeing the bazaar as more tear gas is fired.

Iran's hardline, semi-official Fars news agency said "sporadic gatherings" focused on price increases took place around the bazaar, and that police dispersed them into nearby alleyways.

Other videos from the capital showed demonstrations at the Yaft Abad market in southern Tehran and Caterpillar shopping mall in the southwest of the capital, as well as protesters gathered at the Azari junction.

In the evening, footage verified by BBC Persian showed a large crowd of protesters moving through the town of Abdanan, in Ilam province.

In one clip, a group of police officers standing on a rooftop are seen waving to people calling for their "support". Another clip showed protesters tearing open bags of rice and throwing the contents into the air.

At the same time, the semi-official Fars news agency said a police officer had been killed after being "directly hit by rioters' bullets" during a clash in the Malekshahi County area of Ilam, about 80km (50 miles) to the south-east.

Footage from Malekshahi posted earlier in the day appeared to show a bank on fire and men celebrating beside burning furniture, papers and tyres.

On Monday, President Masoud Pezeshkian's office said he had ordered the interior ministry to form a special delegation to investigate the unrest in Ilam.

It followed widespread outrage over video footage released on Sunday that appeared to show security forces storming the Imam Khomeini Hospital in the predominantly Kurdish city of Ilam, where activists said wounded protesters had been sheltering.

Amnesty International said on Tuesday that it had information that Revolutionary Guards and police special forces "used shotguns and fired tear gas into the grounds, smashed glass doors to gain access, and beat those inside, including medical workers".

"The Iranian security forces' attack... violates international law and exposes yet again how far the Iranian authorities are willing to go to crush dissent," the human rights group warned.

The US state department's Persian-language account on X called the raid on the hospital a "clear crime against humanity".

Kurdish human rights group Hengaw said the protesters being treated at the hospital were wounded when security forces opened fire on a demonstration outside a government compound in Malekshahi on Saturday.

It has said that five protesters were also killed in that incident, including a retired brigadier-general. Semi-official media have said three people, including a member of the security forces, were killed when "rioters" tried to enter a security facility.

Hengaw has also said that it has so far verified the killing of at least 27 people during the protests, including five children.

Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based group, has reported that at least 27 protesters, including five children, have been killed by security forces in eight provinces.

"The Islamic Republic has a well-documented record of bloody repression and mass killings of protesters in past uprisings. Now, as the regime is more unstable than ever and seriously fears for its survival, there is a grave concern that the scale of repression this time may be even more violent and widespread than before," its director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said.

The protests have been the most widespread since an uprising in 2022 sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.

More than 550 people were killed and 20,000 detained in a violent crackdown on those protests by security forces, according to human rights groups.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Violent clashes reported as Iran protests spread to more areas

There were violent clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in several locations in Iran on Wednesday, as a wave of unrest sparked by the country's economic crisis continued for an 11th day.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, said two policemen were shot and killed by armed individuals in the south-western town of Lordegan.

Videos posted on social media showed a tense stand-off between protesters and security forces, with the sound of gunfire in the background.

In footage from several other areas, security forces appear to fire guns and tear gas towards crowds of protesters, some of whom are throwing stones.

The protests have so far spread to 111 cities and towns across all 31 provinces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA).

It has reported that at least 34 protesters and four security personnel have been killed during the unrest, and that 2,200 protesters have been arrested.

BBC Persian has confirmed the deaths and identities of 21 people, while Iranian authorities have reported the deaths of five security personnel.

The protests began on 28 December, when shopkeepers took to the streets of the capital, Tehran, to express their anger at another sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial, against the US dollar on the open market.

The rial has sunk to a record low over the past year and inflation has soared to 40% as sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme squeeze an economy also weakened by government mismanagement and corruption.

University students soon joined the protests and they began spreading to other cities, with crowds frequently heard chanting slogans against the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and sometimes in support of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's late former shah.

On Wednesday, videos verified by BBC Persian showed crowds protesting in Qazvin, north-west of Tehran, and chanting slogans including "Death to the dictator" - a reference to Khamenei - as well as "Long live the shah".

Footage from the Gulf port of Bandar Abbas, showed protesters chanting "Police force, support, support" before security forces disperse them.

In the Shia holy city of Mashhad, in the country's north-west, protesters were seen clashing with security forces and forcing them to retreat. Another video showed people chanting in support of the Pahlavi dynasty, which was overthrown by the 1979 Islamic revolution.

In the late afternoon, a large demonstration also took place in the south-western city of Abadan, near the border with Iraq, according to footage verified by BBC Persian, in which protesters chanted "Cannon, tanks, firecrackers! Mullahs must get lost", a reference to Iran's clerical leadership.

More footage filmed from a balcony in the city appeared to show security forces opening fire as they run away from advancing protesters, who are throwing stones and other objects.

As night fell, security forces were filmed firing tear gas to disperse a protest in Aligudarz, another western city, after a crowd had gathered in a square chanting "People's uprising, Viva!"

In Lordegan, Fars reported that two police officers were killed during a protest on Wednesday.

It added that the officers, whom it named as Hadi Azarsalim and Moslem Mahdavinasab, were shot dead by "armed individuals" who had been among a group of what it called "rioters".

It was not immediately possible to verify the report because the BBC and other independent international media are either not allowed to report from inside Iran or, if granted permission, face severe restrictions on their movements.

However, Lordegan has been the scene of violent clashes during the unrest, with two protesters killed there last Thursday.

Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Vice-President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah said President Masoud Pezeshkian had ordered that "no security measures" be taken against peaceful protesters.

"Those who carry firearms, knives and machetes and who attack police stations and military sites are rioters, and we must distinguish protesters from rioters," he added.

State media also reported that the government had begun paying 71 million citizens a new monthly allowance equivalent to $7 (£5) to ease the pain of the high cost of living.

Meanwhile, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told police commanders that "rioters" would face "rapid" prosecution and punishment in order to serve as a deterrent.

Khamenei - who, as supreme leader, has ultimate power in Iran - said on Saturday that authorities should "speak with the protesters" but that "rioters should be put in their place".

His comments came after President Donald Trump threatened that the US would intervene if Iranian security forces killed peaceful protesters, saying: "We are locked and loaded."

Dr Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East programme at the London-based think tank Chatham House, told the BBC that the protests had quickly become political and were being driven by deep-seated anger among the public.

"People are fed up. They have no prospects for the future. Day-to-day life is becoming much more difficult," she said.

"If there is more momentum and if more people come out, [the protests] will be more serious and, of course, there the government response becomes more violent."

Sadegh Zibakalam, a political science professor at the University of Tehran, said the Iranian authorities might be resisting a harsher crackdown because of Trump's threats.

"Some Iranian leaders - Revolutionary Guard commanders and security forces - maybe they are a bit more cautious and are not in a hurry to suppress the crowd this time fearing it may create an American intervention," he told the BBC.

The protests have been the most widespread since an uprising in 2022 sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.

More than 550 people were killed and 20,000 detained in a violent crackdown on those protests by security forces, according to human rights groups.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Iran protesters defy crackdown as videos show violent clashes

Protesters in Iran defied a deadly government crackdown on Saturday night, taking to the streets despite reports suggesting hundreds of people have been killed or wounded by security forces in the past three days.

Verified videos and eyewitness accounts seen by the BBC appeared to show the government was ramping up its response, as it continues an overarching internet blackout.

The country's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said on Saturday that anyone protesting would be considered an "enemy of God" - an offence that carries the death penalty.

Hundreds of protesters are believed to have arrested since demonstrations began more than two weeks ago.

The protests were sparked by soaring inflation, and have spread to more than 100 cities and towns across every province in Iran. Now protesters are calling for an end to the clerical rulership of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei has dismissed demonstrators as a "bunch of vandals" seeking to "please" US President Donald Trump.

The Iranian government has imposed the internet shutdown in an effort to stop the protests. Iran's data infrastructure is tightly controlled by the state and security authorities. Internet access is largely limited to a domestic intranet, with restricted links to the outside world.

Over the past few years, the government has progressively curtailed access to the global internet. However, during the current round of protests, authorities have, for the first time, not only shut down access to the worldwide internet but also severely restricted the domestic intranet.

An expert told BBC Persian that the current shutdown is more severe than that imposed during the "Women, Life, Freedom" uprising three years ago. Alireza Manafi, an internet researcher, said internet access in Iran, in any form, was now "almost completely down".

He added the only likely way to connect to the outside world was via Starlink, but warned users to exercise caution, as such connections could potentially be traced by the government.

The BBC and most other international news organisations are also unable to report from inside Iran, making obtaining and verifying information difficult.

Nonetheless, some video footage has emerged, and the BBC has spoken to people on the ground.

Verified video from Saturday night showed protesters taking over the streets in Tehran's Gisha district. Several videos, verified and confirmed as recent by BBC Verify, show clashes between protesters and security forces on Vakil Abad Boulevard in Mashhad, Iran's second largest city.

Masked protesters are seen taking cover behind wheelie bins and bonfires, while a row of security forces is seen in the distance. A vehicle that appears to be a bus is engulfed in flames.

Multiple gunshots and what sounds like banging on pots and pans can be heard as a green laser beam lights up the scene.

A figure standing on a nearby footbridge is visible in the footage and appears to fire multiple gunshots in several directions as a couple of people take cover behind a fence on the side of the boulevard.

Other videos have also emerged from the capital Tehran. One video, authenticated by BBC Verify, shows a large group of protesters and the sound of banging on pots in Punak Square in west Tehran, which has been one of the hotspots of protests this week.

Another clip, filmed in the Heravi district in north-east Tehran and confirmed by BBC Persian and BBC Verify, shows a crowd of protesters marching on a road and calling for the end of the clerical establishment.

'US ready to help'

On Saturday, Trump wrote on social media: "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"

He did not elaborate, but US media reported that Trump had been briefed on options for military strikes in the country. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the briefings had taken place, with the Journal describing them as "preliminary discussions". An unnamed official told the WSJ there was no "imminent threat" to Iran, the paper wrote.

Last year, the US conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

US Senator Lindsey Graham posted several times in support of the protests on social media, writing: "To the Iranian people: your long nightmare is soon coming to a close."

Their "bravery and determination to end your oppression" had been "noticed" by the US president, he said. "Help is on the way," he added in the same post.

Earlier, he said: "To the regime leadership: your brutality against the great people of Iran will not go unchallenged."

As dawn broke on Sunday in Iran, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah (king), whose return protesters have been calling for, posted a video to X.

Its caption said: "Know that you are not alone. Your compatriots around the world are proudly shouting your voice... In particular, President Trump, as the leader of the free world, has carefully observed your indescribable bravery and has announced that he is ready to help you."

He added: "I know that I will soon be by your side."

US-based Pahlavi has been calling for people to take to the streets, and has said he is preparing to return to the country.

He claimed the Islamic republic was facing a "severe shortage of mercenaries" and that "many armed and security forces have left their workplaces or disobeyed orders to suppress the people". The BBC could not verify these claims.

Pahlavi encouraged people to continue protesting on Sunday evening, but to stay in groups or with crowds and not "endanger your lives".

Amnesty International said it was analysing "distressing reports that security forces had intensified their unlawful use of lethal force against protesters" since Thursday.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said those speaking out against Khamenei's government should not face "the threat of violence or reprisals".

Since Friday night, staff at three hospitals have told the BBC they had been overwhelmed with casualties. The BBC Persian service has verified that 70 bodies were brought to just one hospital in Rasht city on Friday night.

BBC Persian has confirmed the identities of 26 people killed, including six children. Members of the security forces have also been killed, with one human rights group putting the number at 14.

A hospital worker in Tehran described "very horrible scenes", saying there were so many wounded that staff did not have time to perform CPR, and that morgues did not have enough room to store the bodies of those who had died.

"Around 38 people died. Many as soon as they reached the emergency beds... direct shots to the heads of the young people, to their hearts as well. Many of them didn't even make it to the hospital."

The hospital worker said the dead or wounded were young people. "Couldn't look at many of them, they were 20-25 years old."

The protests have been the most widespread since an uprising in 2022 sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.

More than 550 people were killed and 20,000 detained by security forces over several months, according to human rights groups.

BBC

 

[Kianig89]

Things not looking good in Iran, the west might finally pull the rug under Khamenei

 

[Red-Indian]

Things not looking good in Iran, the west might finally pull the rug under Khamenei

I hope the West don't intervene. The Iranian people look capable of getting this done on their own. Any military intervention from the US would justify what the regime has been saying about their own people and cause years of chaos.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I think the protests have fizzled down a bit. There is obviously censorship but from the images filtering through the last few days seems to be less than the current anti ICE protests in USA.

 

[globetrotter]

Trump wants to restore democracy in Iran...

Will he hijack Khomeni like Venezuelan president?

 

[Ball Blazer]

Trump wants to restore democracy in Iran...

Will he hijack Khomeni like Venezuelan president?

Lol. he cares less about democracy. USA last attacked Iran's nuclear sites so this is what it is about. He's scared.

 

[globetrotter]

Protester tears down Iranian flag at embassy in London

 

[Ball Blazer]

Trump says US military considering ‘very strong options’ for Iran

United States President Donald Trump has said that Washington is considering “strong options” in response to the protests in Iran, including possible military intervention.

“We’re looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination,” he told reporters on board Air Force One late on Sunday.

A nationwide internet blackout has also persisted for more than 72 hours, according to monitoring groups.

Trump was scheduled to meet with senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for Iran, a ⁠US official told the Reuters news agency. The Wall Street Journal reported that options included military strikes, using secret cyberweapons, widening sanctions and providing online help to anti-government sources.

He said Iran’s leadership had called, seeking “to negotiate” after his threats of military action, and that a “meeting is being set up”.

But he added that “we may have to act before a meeting”.

Trump’s latest threat came as Iranian leaders issued a stark warning against military intervention, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf saying “In the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target”.

The protests began on December 28, when merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar closed their shops over the Iranian rial’s plummeting value. The demonstrations quickly spread nationwide, with grievances evolving from economic concerns over soaring living costs to broader opposition against Iran’s clerical establishment, who have governed the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

According to Iranian state media, at least 109 security personnel have been killed during the unrest, and authorities have not confirmed the number of demonstrators who have lost their lives.

But opposition activists based outside the country say the death toll is higher and includes hundreds of protesters.

Trump said on Sunday that he plans to speak with billionaire Elon Musk about restoring internet in Iran.

“He’s very good at that kind of thing, he’s got a very good company,” Trump told reporters in response ⁠to a question about whether he would engage with Musk’s SpaceX company, which offers a satellite internet service called Starlink that has been used in Iran.

The unrest in Iran is unfolding as Trump pursues an assertive foreign policy, having abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and discussing acquiring Greenland by purchase or force.

The US leader on Sunday also spoke on his plans for Venezuela and Greenland.

Trump confirmed he would be meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Global oil companies will also be “safe” if they invest in Venezuela, he said, repeating a pledge made last week during a White House meeting with oil executives.

“There are guarantees they’re going to be safe,” he said. “They had problems in the past because they didn’t have Trump as president. They had stupid people.”

On Greenland, Trump called for the Danish Arctic territory to “make a deal”, and said “we are talking about acquiring it, not making a short term deal”.

Trump repeated his previous – and unproven – claims that China and Russia had deployed “destroyers and submarines all over the place” in the waters around Greenland. The territory’s defence force, he said, was made up of “two dogsleds”.

Trump, who has previously said that US annexation of Greenland is necessary for Washington’s self -defence, said Russia and China will take Greenland if the US does not.

“I’m not letting that happen,” he told reporters. “I would love to make a deal with them. It’s easier, but one way or another we’re going to have Greenland.”

Trump says US military considering ‘very strong options’ for Iran

US president says Washington is closely monitoring protests in Iran and considering possible military intervention.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Hitman]

Hope things get better there.

 

[Devadwal]

Another coup government is coming in Asia after Bangladesh, Pakistan by USA.

They Tried in india but failed miserably. India democracy and judiciary is too strong to dictated by USA or any power in the World.

 

[Bhaijaan]

US objective is to have a cooperating regime in Iran that will not pursue ambitions of having nuclear bombs which is a threat to US-Israeli interests in the region. If protestors are unable to bring about a regime change by themselves, Trump is likely to intervene.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Trump will intervene to get an advantage. He is greedy. Just like he intervened in Pakistan affairs to get a plethora of benefits through Shehbaz and Munir

 

[globetrotter]

US already hit Russia by taking control of Venezuelan oil and capturing their oil tankers.....

If US is successful in regime change in Iran, then US have control of Iranian oil too... that means US will control half of the world's oil supply which will be huge setback for China.

Things are moving fast towards 3rd world war

 

[BouncerGuy]

Trump announces 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had imposed a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran, a move that could put pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests enter a third week.

Trump said on social media that the tariff was "effective immediately", without offering details of what constituted "doing business" with Iran.

China is Iran's largest trading partners, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.

The new tariff comes after Trump threatened to intervene militarily if Tehran killed protesters. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that military options including air strikes were still "on the table".

"Any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

"This Order is final and conclusive," he added.

The White House did not share additional information about the tariffs, including which countries' imports will be hit hardest.

Anger over the plummeting value of the Iranian currency, the rial, sparked protests in late December, which have grown into a crisis of legitimacy for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) says it has verified the deaths of nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel in Iran, while sources tell the BBC the death toll could be much higher. Thousands more have reportedly been arrested.

However, an internet blackout since Thursday evening has made it difficult to obtain and verify information. The BBC and most other international news organisations are unable to report from inside Iran.

Trump has threatened to intervene, and said on Sunday that Iranian officials had called him "to negotiate" - but added "we may have to act before a meeting".

International sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme have had a severe impact on the country's economy, which has also been weakened by government mismanagement and corruption.

On 28 December shopkeepers took to the streets of Tehran to express their anger at another sharp fall in the value of the rial against the US dollar on the open market.

Iran's currency has sunk to a record low over the past year while inflation has soared to more than 40%, resulting in sharp price rises for everyday items like cooking oil and meat.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Here comes the fraud..

https://twitter.com/x/status/2010824507397980646

 

[sweep_shot]

Trump announces 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had imposed a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran, a move that could put pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests enter a third week.

Trump said on social media that the tariff was "effective immediately", without offering details of what constituted "doing business" with Iran.

China is Iran's largest trading partners, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.

The new tariff comes after Trump threatened to intervene militarily if Tehran killed protesters. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that military options including air strikes were still "on the table".

"Any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

"This Order is final and conclusive," he added.

The White House did not share additional information about the tariffs, including which countries' imports will be hit hardest.

Anger over the plummeting value of the Iranian currency, the rial, sparked protests in late December, which have grown into a crisis of legitimacy for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) says it has verified the deaths of nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel in Iran, while sources tell the BBC the death toll could be much higher. Thousands more have reportedly been arrested.

However, an internet blackout since Thursday evening has made it difficult to obtain and verify information. The BBC and most other international news organisations are unable to report from inside Iran.

Trump has threatened to intervene, and said on Sunday that Iranian officials had called him "to negotiate" - but added "we may have to act before a meeting".

International sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme have had a severe impact on the country's economy, which has also been weakened by government mismanagement and corruption.

On 28 December shopkeepers took to the streets of Tehran to express their anger at another sharp fall in the value of the rial against the US dollar on the open market.

Iran's currency has sunk to a record low over the past year while inflation has soared to more than 40%, resulting in sharp price rises for everyday items like cooking oil and meat.

BBC

LOL. This means India gets additional 25% tariff (on top of existing tariffs).

 

[BouncerGuy]

"Foreign Interference Intensifying Unrest": Iran's India Envoy To NDTV

Protests in Iran sparked by inflation have turned violent, with demonstrations calling for regime change. Meanwhile, rallies in support of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and against foreign powers were held in nearly 100 locations across Iran on Monday.

NDTV's Ali Abbas Naqvi spoke with Iran's Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali about whether any foreign nationals or Indians were injured in the protests.

NDTV :What is the latest situation in Iran? Do you have any statistics on the number of people killed in the protests?

Ambassador: The protests initially had a peaceful character, but gradually they were steered toward violence and insecurity by foreign elements affiliated with Mossad and the United States. From the very beginning, the government announced that it is ready to listen to the demands and voices of the protesters, but it would not tolerate riots, destruction and violent acts.

What is certain is that among those who have lost their lives are both ordinary citizens and police forces. There is evidence of ISIS-like crimes, including beheadings, burning of bodies and similar brutal acts, which shows that we are not facing ordinary protesters, but rather terrorist elements affiliated with ISIS and organised criminal groups that are directed and supported from abroad.

Fortunately, the situation is now under control, and the massive gatherings held today in various cities across the country demonstrated that the people continue to support the system of the Islamic Republic and will never allow foreign countries to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

NDTV: Who are the protesters behind these unrests?

Ambassador: Alongside a segment of the population that has legitimate economic and social demands, infiltrators and foreign agents have played a prominent role in turning protests into violence. Moreover, officials of the Zionist regime, as well as the United States, have repeatedly and explicitly stated that Mossad agents were present among the protesters - an issue that, according to official statements, indicates direct foreign interference in intensifying the unrest.

NDTV: The Israeli ambassador has alleged that the Iranian people want regime change. What is your view on this?

Ambassador: These statements are essentially not worthy of a response. A regime whose prime minister is wanted by international judicial bodies as a war criminal for the killing of more than 70,000 innocent people in Gaza - most of them women and children - and a regime that, during the 12-day war, killed more than a thousand innocent Iranian citizens - by what standing does it allow itself to comment on the will of the Iranian people?

In addition, there is clear evidence showing that elements affiliated with this very regime have played a direct role in pushing the protests toward violence.

NDTV: Are all Indian citizens, who have been affected by the internet shutdown in Iran and cannot be contacted, safe?

Ambassador: Overall, the situation is under the control of the responsible institutions, and there is no particular concern regarding the security of foreign nationals. Although, due to temporary limitations and disruptions to the internet, direct contact with some individuals has become difficult. This does not mean a complete cut-off of communications or any danger to them.

We are also in continuous coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran to monitor the security and welfare conditions of foreign nationals so that, should any potential issue arise, the necessary measures can be taken in the shortest possible time.

NDTV: Have any citizens of other countries been killed or injured in these protests?

Ambassador: No, so far we have not received any reports of foreign citizens being killed or injured in the recent protests.

NDTV: Reports say that more than 200 people have been arrested. Who are these individuals - are they Iranian or foreign?

Ambassador: Those who have been arrested are rioters who, with links to foreign powers and external elements, played an active role in diverting the peaceful protests of the people and attempted to turn citizens' legitimate demands into chaos and violence. Through violent actions, they encouraged some protesting youths toward insecurity and instability.

These individuals played an effective role in the destruction of public and private property, including setting fire to mosques, government buildings, police vehicles and even the homes of ordinary people. These actions bear no relation to civil and peaceful protest and show that the primary objective of these elements was to create fear and terror, insecurity, and to strike at the country's stability, rather than to express popular demands.

NDTV: There have also been reports of the arrest of a Mossad agent. What were his future plans, and were any weapons discovered?

Ambassador: Based on confirmed information, the report of the arrest of an agent affiliated with Mossad is accurate, and this individual has been identified and detained by security agencies. He is currently undergoing interrogation, and the process of examining the dimensions of his mission and his communication network is ongoing. Security officials have announced that once the initial investigations are completed, more precise and documented information will be made available to the public.

According to reports received from security sources, various types of cold and firearms were discovered from this individual and those close to him, and the available evidence indicates that they fired shots from within the crowd of protesters. The purpose of such actions was to inflame the atmosphere, create fear and panic, and advance a "manufactured killings" scenario during the protests, in order to divert popular protests from a peaceful path and drag them into violence.

This individual was operating as part of a broader plan and in coordination with other elements affiliated with foreign intelligence services - a plan whose main objective was to destabilise the country and exploit the genuine demands of the people to advance the political and security goals of foreign actors.

NDTV: Finally, what message would you like to convey to the world, and especially to the government of India?

Ambassador: My message to the world, and especially to the government and people of India - who, like the people of Iran, have always been victims of terrorism - is that what is happening in Iran today is not merely an internal unrest or a social protest, but part of a full-scale hybrid war pursued with the direct guidance and support of the Zionist regime and the United States. The burning of mosques, the killing of innocent citizens, the burning and mutilation of security forces, and the widespread destruction of public property are precisely the same patterns we have previously seen from terrorist groups such as ISIS. Today, we are witnessing the repetition of those same ISIS-like actions.

The objective of Iran's enemies is not concern for the people, but destabilisation and the collapse of the region's security order and the alteration of geopolitical borders. This dangerous project will never be confined to Iran alone. Experience has shown that the fire of terrorism, if not contained, quickly crosses borders and engulfs all countries in the region.

In recent years, Iran stood on the front lines of the fight against ISIS and, as the initial shield, prevented the spread of this ominous phenomenon to countries in the region, Europe, and beyond. Today, we once again warn that if these terrorist acts are normalised or ignored, the risk of the spread of insecurity and violence to other countries is entirely real. Vigilance, cooperation, and collective confrontation with terrorism are today more than ever a global necessity.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/foreign-interference-intensifying-unrest-irans-india-envoy-to-ndtv-10735727

 

[BouncerGuy]

Trump briefed on military and covert options for Iran, sources say

President Donald Trump has been briefed on a wide range of covert and military tools for use in Iran, two Department of Defense officials told the BBC's US partner, CBS News.

Long-range missile strikes remain an option for a potential US intervention, but Pentagon officials have also presented cyber operations and psychological campaign responses, the sources said.

Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran on Monday, as rights groups say more than 600 protesters have been killed in three weeks of anti-government protests.

Iran's foreign minister has said Tehran is open to talks with Washington, but remains "prepared for war".

Trump's national security team is expected to hold a meeting at the White House on Tuesday to discuss options for Iran, the sources said, but it is unclear whether the president himself will be in attendance.

The US president had earlier said that his military was weighing "very strong options" to intervene if more protesters were killed. Trump said Iranian leaders had called him "to negotiate", but added that the US "may have to act before a meeting".

Frustration over the collapse of the Iranian currency and economic mismanagement has expanded into a crisis of legitimacy for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said an Iranian official had also contacted Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, adding that Tehran's public stance is "quite [different] from the messages the administration is receiving privately".

However, she warned that the US president is "unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary".

The two sources, who requested anonymity to discuss national security matters with CBS, said that any US military response in Iran will likely involve air power, but that planners are also considering options to disrupt Iranian command structures and communications.

The US has urged its citizens in Iran to leave or have a plan to depart the country that does not require US government assistance.

Khamenei accused the US of "deceit" and relying on "treacherous mercenaries", while praising state-organised pro-government rallies held in Iran on Monday.

He said the "Iranian nation is a powerful one, is aware and knows its enemies and is present in every scene".

State media said large crowds gathered in several cities following calls for pro-government demonstrations. BBC Persian has seen text messages inviting people inside the country to attend these demonstrations, while also warning them not to take part in anti-government protests.

Separately on Monday, Trump said on his Truth Social platform he would impose a 25% tariff on goods from countries that are "doing business" with Tehran, without elaborating.

"This order is final and conclusive," he added.

Iran, already under severe US sanctions, faces a collapsing currency and inflation that has pushed food prices up by as much as 70%. Food makes up about one-third of Iran's imports, and further restrictions, caused by the tariffs, could worsen shortages and costs.

The White House did not share additional information about the tariffs. China is Iran's largest trading partner, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.

The move could put more pressure on Tehran as the Iranian government escalates a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last shah who lives in exile in the US, has urged Trump to intervene "sooner" to limit the number of deaths among protesters.

In an interview with CBS News, Pahlavi said the current Iranian government was "trying to trick the world into thinking that (it) is ready to negotiate once again".

He described Trump as "a man that means what he says and says what he means" and who "knows what's at stake".

"I think the president has a decision to make fairly soon," Pahlavi said.

At least 648 protesters in Iran have been killed, including nine people under the age of 18, according to Norway-based human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). Sources inside Iran have told the BBC the death toll could be much higher.

The BBC and most other international news organisations are unable to report from inside Iran. An internet blackout since Thursday evening has made it difficult to obtain and verify information.

BBC

 

[Rafale Nidhal Fan]

even the lowest of IQ knows this is funded by 2 countries

 

[BouncerGuy]

Trump vows 'very strong action' if Iran executes protesters

President Donald Trump has said the US will take "very strong action" against Iran if it executes protesters, as rights groups say more than 2,400 anti-government demonstrators have been killed in a violent crackdown by Iranian authorities.

Relatives of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was detained last week, have told BBC Persian that he is due to be executed on Wednesday.

A representative from the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights also told the BBC that they had "never witnessed a case move so quickly".

Speaking to the BBC's US partner CBS News, Trump said of potential executions: "If they hang them, you're going to see some things... We will take very strong action if they do such a thing."

Soltani's relative told BBC Persian that an Iranian court had issued a death sentence "in an extremely rapid process, within just two days".

Awyar Shekhi, a representative of Hengaw, said that the case demonstrated that the Iranian government is "using every tactic they know to suppress people and spread fear".

An Iranian official told Reuters that 2,000 people had been killed, but that "terrorists" were to blame.

Trump earlier said he planned to attend a meeting at the White House on Tuesday night to discuss the situation in Iran, pledging to get "accurate numbers" on the death toll from the protests.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said that it had so far confirmed the killing of 2,403 protesters, as well as 12 children, despite an internet blackout. Nearly 150 people affiliated with the government have also been killed, the group said.

"The killing looks like it's significant, but we don't know yet for certain," Trump told reporters while returning to the White House.

Once he has the numbers, he said, "we'll act accordingly."

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Iranian authorities would "pay a big price" for the killings, and urged people to "keep protesting".

"I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!," he added, using the acronym for a US-based Iranian opposition slogan, "Make Iran Great Again".

Trump has been weighing military and other options in response to the crackdown, having already announced 25% tariffs on any country trading with Iran.

Iran's government has responded by accusing the US of seeking to "manufacture a pretext for military intervention", warning that "this playbook has failed before".

The protests, which have reportedly spread to 180 cities and towns in all 31 provinces, were sparked by anger over the collapse of the Iranian currency and soaring cost of living.

They quickly widened into demands for political change and became one of the most serious challenges to the clerical establishment since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Demonstrations escalated significantly last Thursday and were met with deadly force by authorities, masked by a near total shutdown of the internet and communication services.

More than 18,434 protesters have been arrested during the unrest, according to HRANA.

It is difficult to gauge the true scale of bloodshed because, like other international news organisations, the BBC is not able to report from inside the country.

However, videos posted online on Sunday showed people searching for the bodies of their loved ones at the Kahrizak Forensic Centre in Tehran. The BBC counted at least 180 shrouded bodies and body bags in the footage.

Around 50 bodies were visible in another video from the facility shared on Monday.

"My friend went there [Kahrizak] to look for his brother, and he forgot his own sorrow," an activist told BBC Persian on Monday.

"They piled up bodies from every neighbourhood, like Saadatabad, Naziabad, Sattarkhan. So you go to your address pile and search there. You don't know a fraction of the level of violence that's been used."

Hospitals in the capital have also reportedly been overwhelmed by the number of casualties.

Prof Shahram Kordasti, an Iranian oncologist based in London, told the BBC's Newsday programme on Tuesday that the last message he had received from a colleague in Tehran said: "In most hospitals, it's like a warzone. We are short of supplies, short of blood."

Other doctors at "two to three hospitals" had also said they had treated hundreds of injured or dead people, he added.

An Iranian living in Rasht, near the Caspian Sea coast, described the city as unrecognisable. "Everywhere is burnt with fire," they said.

The UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged Iranian authorities to halt all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protesters immediately, his office said.

He added that the labelling of protesters as "terrorists" to justify violence was unacceptable and that it was "extremely worrying" to see statements from Iranian officials indicating the possibility of the death penalty being used against protesters through expedited trials.

Iran's Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said on Monday that those involved in the unrest would be "dealt with seriously and severely". And prosecutors have said some will be charged with "enmity against God", a national security offence that carries the death penalty.

Türk also demanded that Iranian authorities restore full access to the internet and other communication services.

Some international calls from Iran went through on Tuesday, but the internet shutdown has now passed 120 hours, according to monitor NetBlocks.

One person living near Tehran with access via the Starlink satellite service told BBC Persian that there were "checkpoints in every block", where cars and the phones of their occupants were being inspected by security forces.

New videos of protests in recent days have also emerged, with BBC Persian verifying those filmed in the central city of Arak and the western cities of Tabriz, Urmia and Khorramabad.

In the footage from Khorramabad, gunfire can be heard during clashes between security forces and protesters, some of whom are throwing stones.

The protesters chant slogans "Death to the dictator" - a reference to Ayatollah Khamenei - and "Reza Shah, may your soul rest in peace" - referring to the late monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the 1979 revolution and whose son Reza lives in exile.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

US and UK pulling some personnel from Qatar military base

The US and UK are reducing the number of personnel at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, as US President Donald Trump considers whether to take action against Iran over its crackdown on anti-government protests.

Officials have told CBS, the BBC's US partner, that the partial American withdrawal was a "precautionary measure". The BBC understands some UK military personnel are also being removed.

A Qatari government statement said the measures reportedly being taken by the US were "in response to the current regional tensions".

Trump earlier said the US would take "very strong action" against Iran if the authorities execute protesters. Iran has said it will retaliate if attacked by the US.

US and UK pulling some personnel from Qatar military base

US officials say it is a "precautionary measure" and comes as Donald Trump weighs up whether to take action against Iran.

www.bbc.com

 

[KingKhanWC]

This a better thread, with a more accurate title.

Trump is a puppet, he is not allowed to wash his backside without the Zionists allowing him to do so. Its not just Trump almost all congress and senate are Zionists.

The Epstein files has gone quiet now, Trump and his buddies must have done some sick demonic acts, if they are willing to go to war, Americans being killed , potentially an economic global disaster or worse a nuclear war.

 

[KingKhanWC]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011477587613094393

Let’s hope not . If so by next week we may be living in the Stone Age

 

[Champ_Pal]

Iran is toast. By bye oppressive regime

 

[Champ_Pal]

This a better thread, with a more accurate title.

Trump is a puppet, he is not allowed to wash his backside without the Zionists allowing him to do so. Its not just Trump almost all congress and senate are Zionists.

The Epstein files has gone quiet now, Trump and his buddies must have done some sick demonic acts, if they are willing to go to war, Americans being killed , potentially an economic global disaster or worse a nuclear war.

Iran also accused Pakistan of sending in Terrorists into Iran to cause chaos and unrest.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Those who bark, don't bite. Rule of thumb

Iran is toast. By bye oppressive regime

 

[KingKhanWC]

Iran is toast. By bye oppressive regime

It’s an ideological ruling group. Just like the Modi regime , taking him out won’t stop the RSS from continuing rule .

Israel doesn’t want just regime change , it wants a global war which would put another 400 million Indians in poverty along with many others around the world.

It’s an interesting perspective and cheering support as Iranians inc the government respect Hindus , while Zionist Jews believe they should be stoned to death . I respect your subservience to greater Israel.

 

[HalBass9]

Iran is toast. By bye oppressive regime

Do you not live in America as a Hindutva atheist, the USA economy will be toast if USA decided to go for a war against Iran.

 

[Patriot]

Here comes the fraud..

https://twitter.com/x/status/2010824507397980646

Did she support her liberal mates and speak out against ICE and the shooting in the US of a mother?

 

[IMMY69]

Oil went up 3pct yesterday when Trump announced they will back resistance..

Oil just dropped 5pct when Trump announces there will be no action

 

[sweep_shot]

Oil went up 3pct yesterday when Trump announced they will back resistance..

Oil just dropped 5pct when Trump announces there will be no action

Trump is a mental patient. LOL.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Trump says Iran has 'no plan' to execute protesters

President Donald Trump says Tehran has "no plan" to execute protesters, but still hasn't ruled out US military action against the country over its violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.

The US and UK are both reducing the number of personnel at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, while officials have told CBS, the BBC's US partner, that a partial American withdrawal is a "precautionary measure".

Iran's airspace was closed to nearly all flights for five hours overnight, with several airlines announcing that they will reroute flights around Iran.

The Foreign Office has also temporarily closed the British embassy in Tehran, which will now operate remotely, a government spokesperson said.

Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, Trump said his administration had been told "on good authority" that "the killing in Iran is stopping, and there's no plan for executions".

When questioned by a reporter, Trump said that "very important sources on the other side" had informed him of the developments, adding that he hoped the reports were true.

Initial demonstrations over the collapse of the Iranian currency began in late December, but swiftly expanded into a wider crisis of legitimacy for Iran's clerical leadership.

Trump had earlier threatened "very strong action" against Iran if the government executed protesters, after reports emerged that a 26-year-old man who had been arrested during the height of the demonstrations had been sentenced to death.

Erfan Soltani was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, his family had told BBC Persian. They later told the Norway-based Kurdish human rights group Hengaw that his execution had been postponed.

Iranian authorities have reportedly failed to give Soltani's family any more information about his case, citing only that he had been arrested in connection with a protest.

The clothes shop owner was detained in the city of Fardis, just west of Tehran, last week.

Responding to reports of potential executions, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "hanging is out of the question" and there would be "no hanging today or tomorrow".

Speaking to Fox News, he also warned the US president to "not repeat the same mistake that you did in June," adding: "If you try a failed experience, you will get the same result." In June 2025, the US bombed three of Iran's nuclear sites over fears Tehran could use them to build a nuclear weapon.

In addition to the temporary closure of the British embassy in Tehran, the US Mission to Saudi Arabia has advised its personnel and citizens to "exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to any military installations in the region".

Italy and Poland have published statements urging their citizens to leave Iran, while Germany has issued a notice to air operators recommending that flights do not enter Iranian airspace, citing potential risk from "escalating conflict and anti-aviation weaponry".

German airline Lufthansa issued a statement confirming its flights would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace "until further notice".

The US embassy in Doha has advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to the Al-Udeid air base, while the Qatari government said it would continue to "implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents".

Al-Udeid is the largest US military base in the Middle East with about 10,000 personnel are based there, as well as around 100 UK staff. It is not clear how many will be leaving.

Earlier this week, the US president had urged Iranians to "KEEP PROTESTING" via a post on his Truth Social platform, promising that "HELP IS ON ITS WAY".

Trump has been reluctant to lend his support to any challengers to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that "we aren't really up to that point yet" in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

When asked whether he could support Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah, Trump said "I don't know whether or not his country would accept his leadership, and certainly if they would, that would be fine with me".

"He seems very nice, but I don't know how he'd play within his own country," Trump added.

Many Iranian demonstrators called for Pahlavi's return during the protests which began more than three weeks ago, but it is difficult to establish the extent of his backing within the country.

Trump also said that the Iranian government could fall due to the protests, but added that "any regime can fail".

Tehran has imposed an internet blackout on the country since last Thursday, as authorities stepped up their crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

The BBC and most other international news organisations are also unable to report from inside Iran, making obtaining and verifying information difficult.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had so far confirmed the killing of 2,435 protesters, as well as 13 children. The group said a further 882 deaths remain under investigation.

BBC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Trump informed Iran he does not intend to attack, asked Tehran to exercise restraint: envoy

Iran’s envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, revealed on Thursday that US President Donald Trump informed Tehran that he will not attack the country and asked that Iran also exercise restraint.

Moghadam made the remarks during a visit to the National Rahmatul-lil-Alameen Authority, where he met the authority’s chairman, Khurshid Ahmad Nadeem.

Protests have taken place across Iran in a movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living, leading to authorities imposing internet restrictions. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in support of protesters.

On Wednesday, Trump said that he had been informed the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, and added that he would “watch and see” about threatened military action.

The Iranian envoy also disclosed that he received information at around 1am, which indicated that Trump did not want war and had asked Iran not to attack the US interests in the region.

Speaking of the protests, the envoy maintained that the people had a legitimate right to protest and that the government had engaged in talks with the demonstrators.

However, he said that the coverage of the US and Western media incited violence, further escalating the situation.

Referring to the statements issued by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 7, he said that they amounted to interference in Iran’s internal affairs, further stoking the tensions.

The envoy described the events as the worst in Iran’s history.

He alleged that armed groups carried out killings, attacked mosques, imambargahs, and committed acts of arson.

The envoy went on to claim that the situation was now “fully under control”, adding that there were no protests in Iran at the moment, despite threats from Israel and the US.

He further held that in case of aggression from Israel or the US, Tehran had already conveyed that it remained prepared.

He added that the country remained on high alert and its airspace had been closed temporarily. The diplomat maintained that in the event of an attack, Iran would target US and Israeli installations in the wider region.

During the visit, the envoy added that Tehran was committed to the pursuit of peace. He further noted that Iran’s ties with Muslim countries were witnessing a “positive phase”.

Moghadam expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its support, which he said had been given “wholeheartedly”, stressing that the country needed moral and political support, rather than material assistance.

He added that Iran had faced economic sanctions for the past 44 years, causing damage but also leading to certain internal strengths.

The envoy also outlined plans to launch Persian language classes with the authority. An earlier press conference by the diplomat, scheduled for 3pm today, was cancelled due to his engagements.

Source: Dawn News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

US President Donald Trump has thanked Iran's leadership, claiming Tehran had called off the executions of hundreds of arrested protesters.

"I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday, have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social network on Friday.

Trump also dismissed comments that some Gulf countries or Israel led efforts to talk him out of an attack and said that it was Iran's actions that swayed him.

"Nobody convinced me; I convinced myself," Trump told reporters as he left the White House to head to Florida for the weekend.

"They didn't hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact."

The White House said on Thursday that Iranian authorities had "halted" 800 scheduled executions amid weeks of protests, adding that Washington is “closely monitoring” the situation.

Trump repeatedly vowed to back protesters in Iran, where a crackdown by authorities is said to have resulted in thousands of casualties.

On Tuesday, Trump called on Iranian demonstrators to keep “protesting and take over institutions”, saying, “Help is on its way,” while warning that Tehran officials will pay a high price.

He also said that Washington would take “very strong action” if Iran carried out executions of protesters.

Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of backing “riots” and “terrorism” in the protests.

The deadly and violent protests in Iran started on December 28.

Iranian authorities have not released official figures on casualties or detainees.

Source: Trt World

 

[BouncerGuy]

Dar expresses hope for peace, stability in Iran in phone call with Araghchi: FO

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed his hope for peace and stability in Iran on Saturday, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

According to a post by the FO on X, Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone call in which the two diplomats discussed the current situation in Iran and the wider region.

Dar “expressed hope for peace and stability, and both sides agreed to continue bilateral consultations on matters of mutual interest”, the statement added.

On Thursday, Pakistan had expressed hope at the United Nations Security Council for an early normalisation of the situation in Iran, which saw its largest demonstrations in years, challenging the country’s government.

Ambassador Asim Ahmad described Iran as a “brotherly country”, saying that the people of the two nations share deep-rooted historical, friendly, cultural and religious bonds.

Protests have taken place across Iran in a movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living, leading to authorities imposing internet restrictions.

US President Donald Trump had repeatedly threatened to intervene in support of protesters. However, monitors reported that the protests have subsided after a crackdown by security forces, while Trump declared that he had decided not to attack the country.

Meanwhile, the same day, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that instability in neighbouring Iran did not suit Pakistan, underscoring that calm and stability in Iran were directly linked to Pakistan’s own interests. He also said that Pakistan was engaging with Washington on the issue of tariffs being imposed on countries conducting trade with Iran.

Earlier this week, Iran’s envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, met the chairman of the National Rahmatul-lil-Alameen Authority Khurshid Ahmad Nadeem, where he expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its support. He said it had been given “wholeheartedly”, stressing that the country needed moral and political support, rather than material assistance.

Dar expresses hope for peace, stability in Iran in phone call with Araghchi: FO

Both sides agree to continue bilateral consultations on matters of mutual interest, FO says.

www.dawn.com