ALNAWANA - President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran said that his government is ready to listen to what the people want and fix their economic problems. This came as nationwide protests began their 15th day in a row and the internet continued to be shut down.
In an interview with state TV, Pezeshkian admitted that many people were unhappy with the economy but blamed the US and Israel for sending what he called "rioters" to the country to make it unstable. He told people to stay away from dangerous people and stressed how important it was to keep the peace.
Even though there is a lot of security and limited access to the internet, protests have continued in Tehran and other big cities. Iranian news outlets said that there were protests in different parts of the city overnight, and that police used tear gas to break up the crowds.
Warnings and arrests for security
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, sent a strong message. He said that if the US took military action against Iran, Tehran would defend itself by attacking US sites and Israeli-held areas.
Ghalibaf said that polite protest is a public right, but he also said that some of the people who were protesting were working for foreign interests. This was repeated by Iran's public prosecutor, who warned that people accused of sabotage or incitement would face harsh punishments.
There has been unrest in several areas in Iran, and semi-official Iranian media said that 109 members of the security forces had been killed. However, human rights groups outside of Iran said that the total number of deaths was higher.
Reactions Around the World
Donald Trump, who used to be president of the US, said that Iran is wanting freedom "in a way that has never been seen before" and that Washington is ready to help. According to Axios, US officials discussed options such as increased regional military presence and cyber operations, though sources said direct military action remains unlikely.
Reuters reported that Israeli sources said the country is on high alert because of worries about a possible US role. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is keeping a close eye on what's going on and expressed hope for political change in Iran.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said that his country stands with the people of Iran. He made it clear that Israel is at odds with Iran's government, not its people.
