Mike Pence: We stand with the people of Iran
On Monday, August 6, US Vice President Mike Pence criticized the Iranian government's approach to dealing with the recent protests and said that the United States stands with the people.
The US Vice President wrote on his Twitter account: "The Iranian government's use of violence against the people of this country is unacceptable. Iranians have the right to oppose a government that spends billions of dollars supporting ruthless dictators and terrorists abroad while its own people are crying out for jobs, opportunity, and freedom. We stand with the people of Iran!"
Mike Pence wrote this tweet in response to a tweet by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who expressed concern yesterday about "reports of Iranian government violence against unarmed citizens" during the recent protests.
Mike Pompeo also emphasized that he supports the right of the Iranian people to protest "government corruption and oppression without fear of retaliation."
The US Secretary of State also called on the Iranian government to respect the "human rights" of the people.
In recent weeks, following the collapse of the rial's value, the unstable economic situation, the high inflation and the daily increase in the price of foreign currencies and coins, Tehran and a number of Iranian cities have witnessed protest demonstrations. These protests initially began with economic slogans, but as the demonstrations continued, the main slogans of the protesters have been against the Leader of the Islamic Republic, the government, and the clergy.
It is said that a 26-year-old man was killed during protests in the city of Karaj.
This comes while an Iranian government official says that the young man was shot dead with a weapon from among the "gatherers" and "from behind."
The Islamic Republic's authorities have not accepted responsibility for the killing of most of the protesters who were killed during the 2009, 2017, and other similar protests, and have consistently blamed "unknown individuals," "Western security service agents," and individuals among the protesters for shooting at the protesters.
The Islamic Republic authorities have not yet announced the number of people arrested in the recent protests, but according to a member of parliament, 3,700 people were arrested in the protests in January of last year.
Source: Radio Farda
