Trump backs Iran protesters, calls them ‘brave people’
US President Donald Trump warned Iran’s authorities against killing protesters amid nationwide demonstrations on Thursday, praising Iranians as “brave people.”
US President Donald Trump warned Iran’s authorities against killing protesters amid nationwide demonstrations on Thursday, praising Iranians as “brave people.”
Millions of Iranians took the streets across the country for a national rally called by exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi.
Trump told podcaster Hugh Hewitt that the Iranian leaders "have been told very strongly… that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell.”
This is the third time since the start of protests on December 28 that Trump has warned Tehran not to kill demonstrators or face possible US intervention.
Addressing Iranians directly, he urged them to “feel strongly about freedom,” and said: “There’s nothing like freedom. You’re brave people. It’s a shame what’s happened to your country.”
Protesters in Iran have appealed directly to Trump for protection. Rights groups say at least 36 people have been killed since the protests began on December, while more than 2,000 people have been arrested or detained.
A nationwide internet blackout hit Iran on Thursday according to live network metrics from network monitoring groups.
Asked if he would meet exiled Prince Pahlavi, Trump said he still waits to see what happens in Iran before meeting or endorsing any opposition figure.
"Well, I've watched him, and he seems like a nice person, but I'm not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that as President," Trump responded. "I think that we should let everybody go out there and see who emerges. I'm not sure necessarily that it would be an appropriate thing to do."
‘US Back people of Iran’
Vice President JD Vance said the administration stands by “anybody who is engaged in peaceful protests” and seeking to exercise “their rights of free association and to have their voices heard,” including in Iran.
"Obviously, the Iranian regime has a lot of problems, as the President of the United States has said, the smartest thing for them to have done, it was true two months ago, it's true today, is for them to actually have a real negotiation with the United States about what we need to see when it comes to their nuclear program," Vance said to reporters at the White House.
"I'll let the President speak to what we're going to do in the future. But we certainly stand with anybody across the world, including the Iranian people, who are advocating for their rights,” he added.
