U.S. State Department Expresses Deep Concern Over Iran Regime Violence Against Protesters
The U.S. State Department expressed deep concern about reports of violence by the Iranian regime against unarmed citizens in its first direct response to the protests in Iran.
Mike Pompeo wrote on his Twitter account Sunday night, August 14 (Monday morning Iran time): “We are deeply concerned by reports of the Iranian regime’s violence against unarmed citizens.”
He added: “The United States supports the Iranian people’s right to protest against the regime’s corruption and repression, without fear of punishment. We call on the Iranian regime to respect the human rights of its people.”
Pompeo’s response comes as widespread demonstrations have taken place in major Iranian cities over the past several days, met with police and security force violence, with reports of martial law being implicitly declared in Karaj. One person has been reportedly killed in Karaj protests.
In the religious city of Qom, traditionally considered a bastion of clergy, protesters have chanted against the government.
Previously, the U.S. State Department’s Farsi Twitter account addressed the new wave of protests in Iran in a separate tweet, stating that the United States supports the voice of Iran’s long-ignored people and hopes for freedom for Iranians.
The U.S. State Department’s Farsi Twitter account, which posts the views of the American government, wrote on Friday, August 12: “We are closely following recent protests in Isfahan, Karaj, Shiraz, Tehran, and other Iranian cities. As Secretary of State Pompeo said: The bitter irony of Iran’s economic situation is that the regime is busy filling its own pockets while its people cry out for employment, change, and opportunity.”
In another tweet, the U.S. State Department’s Farsi Twitter account emphasized: “While it is ultimately up to the Iranian people to determine the future course of their country, the United States supports the voice of Iran’s people, whose voices have been long ignored. The U.S. hopes that Iran’s next 40 years will not be marked by repression and fear, but by freedom and prosperity for the Iranian people.”
The new wave of protests began Monday in major Iranian cities and continued through Friday.
The recent protests started over rising prices and the declining value of the rial but have targeted the government and its leaders.
In recent days, protesters have chanted harsh slogans including “Khamenei, have shame, abandon the country,” “Iranian, speak, demand your rights,” “They made Islam a staircase, they humiliated the people,” “Death to inflation,” “Death to the dictator,” and “Tanks, guns, firecrackers, the mullahs must disappear.”
On Friday, several video reports of protests in Tehran, Shiraz, and Karaj were sent to Voice of America.
Following Thursday protests in at least ten major Iranian cities, footage and reports sent to Voice of America documented attacks by security forces on protesters in some of these cities. Meanwhile, in some of these videos, protesters chanted harsh slogans against the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
On Thursday, for the first time since the widespread December protests, Tehran witnessed demonstrations at several locations. In the Iranian capital, protesters gathered in Vanak and Valiasr crossroads.
In Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Hamadan, Karaj, Kermanshah, Ahvaz, and Varamin, protesters took to the streets.
Thursday evening, initial reports from Tehran indicated that protesters were confronted by attacks from security forces, primarily from the Basij militia.
As darkness fell, security force attacks intensified. Several videos show security forces attacking protesters at Gohardasht in Karaj.
Several video reports by citizens show that in Isfahan and the Shapour Jahan area, protesters were threatened with gunfire. Also in Qahderijan, Isfahan, security forces fired tear gas at protesters.
As security forces attacked the people, protesters escalated their chants.
Reactions
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, in response to the new protests, called the people of these cities “the bravest Iranians” and wrote:
دليرترين ايرانيان در شيراز، اصفهان، کرج، اشتهارد، قرچک، اراک، مشهد، اهواز، قهدریجان، نجفآباد، شاهینشهر و تهران، همه برای ایران به پا خاستهاند و برای نجات میهن از #دشمن_خانگی همقسم شدهاند. یقین دارم که این ایستادگی و شجاعت با اتحاد و همبستگی ملی به پیروزی نهایی منجر میشود.
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) August 2, 2018
Also, Abolhassan Banisadr, the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a message called on the armed forces to join the people. He said: “Iranians must have their rights so that you armed forces can be proud that you are under their command. So you must accept to come out from under tyrannical command and place yourselves under the command of the people.”
