Escalating Tensions: Protests Erupt in Iran Amidst US-Iran Threats
Protests Erupt in Iran
Dubai: Tensions between the United States and Iran have intensified as President Donald Trump and Iranian officials exchanged threats amidst ongoing protests in Iran. These demonstrations, which have resulted in at least seven fatalities, were initially triggered by the collapse of the Iranian rial but have evolved into broader anti-government protests.
Now entering their sixth day, these protests are the largest seen in Iran since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini sparked nationwide unrest. However, the current demonstrations have not yet reached the same intensity or nationwide scope as those following Amini's death, which was linked to her alleged violation of hijab regulations.
Trump's Warning and Iranian Response
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned Iran against violently suppressing peaceful protesters, stating that the US would intervene if necessary. He emphasized that the US is 'locked and loaded' but did not provide further details.
In response, Ali Larijani, a former speaker of Iran's parliament, accused the US and Israel of inciting the protests, although he did not present any evidence for his claims. He cautioned that US intervention would lead to chaos in the region and urged Americans to focus on their own military personnel.
Larijani's comments likely referenced the extensive US military presence in the Middle East. Following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran retaliated by targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, although no injuries were reported.
Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, warned that any foreign interference would be met with severe consequences. He remarked that Iranians are well aware of the repercussions of US involvement in their affairs.
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, also declared that US military bases would be considered legitimate targets. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated longstanding grievances against the US, including historical events such as the 1953 CIA-backed coup and the downing of an Iranian passenger plane in 1988.
Trump's remarks marked a notable shift in US support for Iranian demonstrators, a stance previous presidents have often avoided to prevent accusations of foreign interference. During the 2009 Green Movement, President Obama refrained from openly supporting the protests, a decision he later regretted.
However, analysts caution that such support could backfire. Naysan Rafati from the International Crisis Group noted that while the protests stem from domestic grievances, the Iranian government might use Trump's statement to justify a harsher crackdown.
Continued Protests
On Friday, protests continued in Zahedan, located in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province, near the Pakistani border. The funerals of several demonstrators killed during the protests sparked further marches.
Videos circulated online showed mourners confronting security forces at the funeral of Amirhessam Khodayari, a 21-year-old killed in the unrest. His father publicly denied government claims that Khodayari was part of the Basij paramilitary force.
Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed a desire to negotiate with protesters, but he acknowledged the limitations of his government as the rial's value plummets, with one US dollar now costing approximately 1.4 million rials.
The protests, rooted in economic discontent, have also seen demonstrators voicing opposition to Iran's theocratic regime. The Iranian government has struggled to stabilize the economy following the June conflict.
In a bid to signal openness to negotiations, Iran announced it would cease uranium enrichment at all sites, although discussions with the West have yet to materialize amid warnings from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu against Iran's nuclear ambitions.