WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — US President Donald J. Trump has voiced open support for Iran’s protest movement, declaring that the country is “looking at freedom, perhaps like never before” and adding that the United States “stands ready to help”.
The statement comes as anti-government demonstrations intensify across Iran despite a deadly crackdown, mass arrests and a nationwide internet blackout. In Tehran and other major cities, protesters have been seen waving the pre-1979 Lion and Sun flag, a potent symbol of rejection of the Islamic Republic.
Mr Trump’s remarks mark one of his strongest public interventions since the unrest began and place Washington clearly on the side of the protesters at a moment when Iranian authorities are struggling to contain growing dissent.
The protests have been fuelled by economic hardship, political repression and long-standing grievances, with security forces deploying force in an effort to restore control. The communications blackout has made independent verification difficult, but footage circulating online shows fires burning, crowds chanting and security positions under pressure.∎
