Khamenei launches attack on Trump amid Iran protests – ‘Focus on problems in your country’ | World | News
Iranian dictator Ali Khmanenei has blamed Donald Trump for the growing protests in the country while also urging the US President to “focus on the problems in America”.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pronounced those words as he addressed the nationwide protests with a speech aired by the Iranian state television, The Hindu newspaper reported. This is also supported by an update from The Spectator Index, which said “Iran’s Supreme Leader says Iran will not back down and Trump should focus on running his own country”.
The snap speech by Khamenei showed how seriously authorities are taking the protests, which saw the Iranian government shut down the internet and telephone lines to the outside world, the Indian media also said.
Protests erupted in Iran after exiled prince’s Reza Pahlavi call as internet was cut. A nationwide internet blakcout was reported in Iran on Thursday (January 8) night amid a fresh wave of escalation in Tehran following a call for mass demonstration by the country’s exiled Crown Prince Pahlavi. This comes after twelve days of protests in the country over its ailing economy.
The Associated Press (AP), reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader urged Iranians to preserve unity. He said there are “some rioters” who wants to please U.S. President by damaging public properties. Protesters are ’ruining their own streets to make the President of another country happy,’ he said referring to US President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, January 8, several new clips emerged on social media, seemingly showing protesters taking to the streets in several cities in Iran despite fears of a crackdown.
Videos shared on social media showed fires in the streets of Tehran, with the person sharing it claiming vehicles owned by Iranian forces had been set ablaze. Elsewhere, protesters were filmed shouting “Dishonourable” and “Don’t be afraid, we are all together” after security forces clashed with them, the BBC reported. Protests on Thursday weren’t limited to Tehran. In Babol, northern Iran, people have descended onto Bagh Ferdows Square to protest the regime.
Protests started last month, when soaring inflation and fuel prices have put the Islamic Republic’s ailing economy under new pressure and sparked nationwide demonstrations threatening to unseat the ruling Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iranian State media has accused “terrorist agents” of the U.S. and Israel of setting fires and sparking violence during recent demonstrations, The Hindu also reported.
Agencies said at least 38 people had been killed in the protests so far, with more than 2,200 arrests made by the authorities. Angry clashes have erupted in around 340 different incidents across all of Iran’s 31 provinces
MORE UPDATES TO FOLLOW…
